It was located on a street called College Avenue, now Regent Avenue North , near 40th. The Seminary was dedicated September 8, 1889. About 5,000 people came to hear speeches given in German, Swedish, Norwegian and English. Three extra trains had to be put on to handle the crowd. Governor William R. Merriam of Minnesota and Senator Knute Nelson spoke. On a very cold morning January 11, 1895 the Seminary burned down – with in less than an hour. Arrangements were made to house the students in private homes and the hotel. School was held in the hotel for the rest of the year. They thought of rebuilding but finally moved to Como Avenue in St. Paul, where they are now located. Had it not been for the fire Robbinsdale would have been a college town. The building was of rather rude simplicity – stern rather than inviting- it accommodated 50 students – offered two curriculums. The Seminary students worked at laying our street car tracks and did road work.
-This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ J. P. Shumway). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historiocal Society slide show in 1980.