In December of 1904, the Minneapolis Morning Tribune reported that George S. Nash, had opened a shop for tin and sheet metal jobbing and furnace work in the room south of J. A. Roth’s General Store.The paper said Mr. Nash was an expert mechanic and they trusted he would will build up a good business. In 1907, Nash erected a new building just south of the former location, on the West side of West Broadway near 40th.
In April 1917, Nash convinced the village to install a two-horse, power siren was installed in the Village Hall. Previously the Village Hall bell was rung to announce fires. The number of rings indicated the section of the village where the fire was located. Six years after the fire department was organized, the members decided to form a relief association. G. Nash, Sr., William Rodgers, N. L. Nash, T. P. Howard, J. V. Ruble, R. L. Sayre, J. Bloberger Sr, E. N. Knoll, F. A. Harvey, J. A. Trump, W. D. Bartlett; W. S. Randall and Perly Hoff wrote the articles of incorporation for the Robbinsdale Fire Department Relief Association. The purpose of the relief association was to give aid to disabled firemen, to defray funeral expenses and pay pensions to firemen who serve the required number of years. In 1983, all 28 volunteer firemen belonged to the association.
In 1917 Nash added a garage and began selling Red Crown Gasoline. Gas lines started coming into the village and Gus Urban was the first homeowner to install gas for heating. His home, built in 1906 had been moved to 4137 Lakeland. By 1931, many homes were connecting to the sewer system. “The only public place for which a sewer connection permit has been issued is the Sacred Heart School. George Nash will do that work.”
Mr. Nash was the village weatherman for many years.His daughter, Evelyn Nash Pearson, told the author of Robbinsdale Then and Now, Helen Blodgett, that she remembered her fataher calling the Minneapolis Weather Bureau to find out the weather predictions and signal this with various colored flags above his store.
Born in 1873, George was the husband of Agnes Nash Scott, and the father of four children; George Junior, Evelyn Olive, Viola, and an unnamed son.His brother, Floyd ran the Crystal Lake Baths for many years. Nash passed away in 1946. His son, George Junior, took over his business.
Excellent article!