Flying Free in ’63

1963

Walter J. (Red) Sochacki began his second term as Mayor, the only councilman re-elected. He was well known as a football and basketball coach in the Robbinsdale schools.

In February, Bob Mendendall, the Robbinsdale High School band director, received the “Man of the Year” trophy from the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce. He had served with the Robbinsdale City Band for 25 years, the last 15 years as its director. Under his leadership the City Band won many top awards in the Aquatennial parades. The Chamber of Commerce Committee selecting Mendenhall said he “has probably done more individually to develop music in Robbinsdale than any other single individual.” (NHP) Mendenhall also had helped develop the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps in the mid 1950’s. In March, Mendenhall resigned and Roy Olson became director of the City. Band.

Construction was going on to replace the traffic circle at Highway 52 and Lowry near North Memorial Hospital. It resulted in a bridge joining West Broadway in Minneapolis. The traffic circle, built in 1942, had been a tremendous experience. Traffic entered from at least seven streets and exited wherever the driver wished. Finally, with Robbinsdale’s population over 16,000, the circle could no longer handle the traffic efficiently.

In July, the biggest farewell party Robbinsdale had ever had was held at the K. C. Hall for Gladys Dahl, our much-loved public health nurse, who had served Robbinsdale for 22 years. She had been assisted by a nursing Auxiliary. Its members sewed cancer pads of newspapers covered with sheeting, as modem fiber-filled pads had not been invented. They assisted at the American Legion sponsored Well Baby Clinic at the Legion Club and filled food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also donated money for a loan closet, which still exists. People may borrow hospital beds, bed pans, commodes, etc., for home use. Members of the Auxiliary at that time included Lucille Beebe, Agnes Kranz, Marie Wallace, Mabel Hanson, Emma Heise, Margaret Klingensmith, Helen Blodgett, Mary O’Keefe, Evelyn Grundstrom, Dorothy Bebus, Harriet Megson and Marian Muir, social worker.

This post is part of a series loosely based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett.