1893
Thomas H. Girling, born in England in 1865, had considerable impact as a publisher and civic leader in Robbinsdale. He had learned the printing business and in February, 1893, started publishing the weekly “Picturesque Robbinsdale.” He took the lead in getting the Crystal Hill cut down nine feet and the road graded and later paved. The steep hill on Crystal Avenue (now West Broadway near Minneapolis) was a much-travelled road those days, with teams lining up in caravans, ten or twenty in a line. The steep hill was a real problem. The saloon fund was in good condition, then as now, and the council voted $1,000 out of this fund if the County Commissioners would vote $2,000, which they did, for cutting down the hill.
He later worked to get the road to Osseo paved (now West Broadway) and later the Rockford Road in 1922. He was also Robbinsdale’s second mayor.
In a March, 1893, issue of “Picturesque Robbinsdale” edited by Mr. Girling, this news item appeared: “A telephone has been ordered and now is in place in the Drug Store of George Swift. This is something the village has needed and will be very useful in case of fire or sickness and will save a good many trips to Minneapolis for those who can very often transact their business by telephone.” George Swift had been the town druggist for many years and the Robbinsdale Village Treasurer in 1893 and 1894. He had been born in Boston in 1848 and at age 13 enlisted as drummer boy at Ft. Snelling and in 18621865 marched with General Sherman through Georgia. He retired in 1914 and died in 1936 at the age of 88. He was also postmaster when the Republicans were “in power.” The Stillman’s new house was completed that summer, a house with exceptional equipment for those days. It had fourteen rooms and hot water heat, something not many homes even in the city had in 1893.
On December 4, 1893, the editor, Mr. Girling, became the proud father of a baby girl, Amy, the first child born in the village of Robbinsdale. He apologized for any omissions in the issue and promised to furnish all his “lady acquaintances with chewing gum and his gentlemen friends with a high grade Chandler Cheroot.” Amy died in 1976. Another daughter, Elizabeth (Betty) was a well-known story teller and radio announcer for 33 years, on WLB, KUOM, the Minnesota School of the Air.
T. H. Girling was also a state legislator for about 10 years until his death following an automobile accident on Bass Lake Road in 1924. The weekly started by Thomas Girling in February, 1893, “Picturesque Robbinsdale,” contains many fascinating items. When one reads an advertisement such as this one, how could one resist?
To Shrewd Investors who desire a Suburban Home
Either for a Residence or for Speculation
One which has the advantages of
PURE AIR, PURE WATER, FINE DRIVEWAYS
FINE LAKES, AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
GRADE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, STREET CAR LINE
Making direct connection on Hennepin Avenue
Call on Alfred Parker, Robbinsdale.
Improvements, such as new roads, which made life more pleasant for the residents of the urban community, led to resentment by the people in the thinly settled, strictly agricultural areas. A special election was held on March 24, 1893 and the vote to dissolve the Village of Crystal carried unanimously. On April 19, 1893, Robbinsdale was organized as a village, consisting of three sections of the original twenty-four of the township. The name ROBBINSDALE was made official.
The new officers were:
President; A. B. Robbins
Recorder: John Hayes
Treasurer: George Swift
Trustees;
Lars J. Nasett
Thomas H. Girling
Haakon Christensen
The farm owners on the margins of the village made their choices as to whether they would stay with the old village of Crystal, or come with the new village of Robbinsdale. Mr. Stillman chose to come with Robbinsdale, thereby creating a jog in the western boundary of the village. After the Village of Crystal was dissolved and Robbinsdale was organized, the remaining land reverted back to the original township of Crystal Lake. The Town Board in 1895 consisted of Paris Reidhead, Chairman: Philip Kuch and V. D. Crandall, Supervisors; Jarius Russ, Clerk; C. F. McCausland, Treasurer. According to Col. Stevens, writing in 1895 “The township has just completed a creditable town hall.” (At about 54th and West Broadway.)
This post is part of a series based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett.
The clipping at the top of the post is from the St. Paul Globe April 9th, 1893.