Minnesota became the 32nd state in the Union in the spring of 1858. The community we know as Robbinsdale was not as yet organized as were others in the state. This was a farming community. The settlers were anxious to clear the land and plant their crops and were less interested in forming any kind of a civil entity. However, by 1860 these same somewhat indifferent farmers held a caucus at the home of J.S. Malbon to organize the Township of Crystal Lake and consequently began its civil history. At that time the area consisted of 24 sections (over 15,000 acres) and was bounded on the east by the Mississippi River, on the south by Minneapolis, on the north by Brooklyn Township and on the west by Plymouth Township. One of the early signs of stability was when the area created the first school.
It was located on the Horatio Stillman farm at 4342 Adair Avenue. This first school became a focal point for community meetings as well as social events. By 1870, the population of Crystal Lake Township was 718. A few industries were beginning to flourish. By the 1880’s, the railway was moving through this small hamlet. It was strictly a flag stop and served the community only if someone stood near the tracks and flagged it to stop. In 1887, Mr. Alfred Parker, one of the early settlers in this area, donated land to be used for a Railway Stop to be known as Parker’s Station. Minneapolis began giving out signals that they intended to annex all bordering townships to secure more taxable property. The citizens of Crystal Lake Township rose in protest and secured a Legislative act in 1887 allowing the Incorporation of the Village of Crystal. At about this time, a newcomer named Andrew B. Robbins was so captivated by the beauty of the area he began to amass large amounts of land to be developed for homes and business. He platted Robbinsdale Park, visualizing it as the epitome of a gracious suburb of Minneapolis. For a few years the area was blessed with three names; Crystal Village, Parker Station (for the railroad) and Robbinsdale Park. The government stepped in and insisted that if mail was to be delivered they had to settle on one name and the village finally voted to adopt the name Robbinsdale.
It did not take long for businesses to appear and take root. Examples include Nasett’s General store, Haakon Christiansen’s Blacksmith Shop, Swift’s Drug Store, Russ’s Grocery, Trumps’ General Store. For the next ten years, retail businesses, and manufacturing plants flourished in the community.
In 1888, with the building of thirteen new houses in the area, the “movers and the shakers of the village had informal meetings (it is said they sat on nail kegs) at the blacksmith shop and decided to build a new Village Hall on Broadway at 41st. The plans were carried out and the new building was dedicated that same year. Forsaking the first organized “religious entity” in the area,’The Little White Church” at the intersection of Jefferson Highway (West Broaclway) and Bass Lake Road, yielded to the pull from many toward a more central location.
This was the birth of the First Congregational Church in 1889. The church was built on land donated by the Shumway family at 42nd east of the main street. By 1890 the need for a school building of “quality was urgent. The Parker School (a red brick eight room facility) was constructed and became the pride of the community and served District 24 for many years. 1913, rooms were added to provide a solid K-9 educational base. It was located on Regent Avenue at 41st and became the foundation of the educational system. It was known as the Robbinsdale Public School. In 1893, Crystal Village dissolved itself, and Robbinsdale officially became a Village in its own right. It purchased the Village Hall from Crystal and utilized it until it was torn down in 1953. By 1920, the census population of Robbinsdale numbered 1,369. Businesses continued to flourish, the school system continued to expand to handle the increased enrollment, a public library became a reality, a Volunteer Fire Department was firmly established (and continues to protect life and property today), a City Band (destined to become the signature of Robbinsdale) began its climb from humble beginnings to an organization of national significance. In 1930, the census population listed over 4,000 names.
In 1937 the first Senior High opened adjacent to the site of the old Parker School. District #24(later #281) built 36 new schools to house the growth of student population and became the envy of the Minnesota state school system. Also during the 1930’s, the Village of Robbinsdale came of age and voted to become a city in 1938. Joseph Roche became the first Mayor of the City of Robbinsdale. Of course, the largest event of the 1 940’s was the outbreak of World War II. Hundreds of young men and women were drafted or volunteered. We lost many of our finest young people, and the casualties were felt deeply by those at home as the war ended. The vacancies in our community were severely evident.In 1954, the beginning of the largest business in Robbinsdale was initiated. A group of concerned citizens began the move to develop Victory Hospital at the tip of Oakdale, Lowry and Broadway into North Memorial Health Care. Today it occupies over 20 acres of land, employs 4,300 professionals plus an enormous support staff. In August of 1999, North Memorial became a Level 1 Trauma Center and is one of the largest and best equipped Emergency Hospital in the state.
Changes in our city take place regularly. Old and familiar buildings are gone. New shopping centers change the face of “old main street” The population of the city is frozen as we are nearly built to capacity. Schools close, senior citizen facilities are being built, new faces are seen on West Broadway, on Hubbard Avenue and Rockford Road, pools have replaced the old swimming beaches, but the Robbinsdale City Band still plays, the Water Tower still stands and the memories linger on.
– Wayne E. Murphey, 1999
The image at the top of the post features the work of Robbinsdale Artist, Einar Dahl.