A “Nest” for Teenage Robins

This treasured photo of the original Robin’s Nest root beer shack was brought into the Robbinsdale Historical Society Museum by Anita McLaughlin, daughter of the longtime owners of the “Nest,” as it was known for … Read more

Water Towering

The first water tower in Robbinsdale was erected by the Dickinson & Gillespie Real Estate Company in their McNair Manor development. The company spent $250,000 before any houses were built. Streets were laid and this … Read more

On Einar’s Easel

Born in Hedemark, Norway, Einar Dahl immigrated to the United States in 1902. He found work as a harness maker and shoe salesman. After Dahl came to the Twin Cities in 1907, he eventually found … Read more

The Great Bank Robbery

Joe Roche, son of former mayor and Bank President Joseph William Roche, remembers the “Great Robbinsdale Bank Robbery.” His written account is dated July 9, 2002: For the record, this is what I recall about … Read more

Victory Hospital

Frustrated by Minneapolis licensing requirements and bureaucracy, Dr. Samuel Samuelson decided to build Victory Hospital on property he already owned in Robbinsdale. A year before the building’s completion Dr. Samuelson told the Robbinsdale Post newspaper … Read more

Where do Cooties Come From? Robbinsdale!

William Herbert Schaper (1914-1980) of Robbinsdale was a postman and a fisherman who enjoyed making his own fishing lures. While sitting on his front porch one day in 1948, he whittled a wooden lure that … Read more

Haakon’s House

Haakon Christensen was born in Oslo Norway in 1859. He first visited Crystal Lake Township to attend a ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the Lutheran Seminary. Dedicated in 1889, the seminary was located on … Read more

Robbinsdale Oil on West Broadway

The original Robbinsdale Oil, pictured above, was built in 1938 at 4082 West Broadway. (Note the the old bandstand behind the truck. Eventually Robin Center would appear in the background.) In the photograph are partners … Read more