Robbinsdale Historical Society
Sharing Your Past To Build Our Future
What are these guys smiling about? Chas. O. Wallace ( left.) Wallace was Robbinsdale’s first city clerk. He held office from 1938 until 1945. He served as Mayor from 1947 through 1954 and again from 1967 to 1972. The city’s new government offices behind Robin Center were dedicated to Wallace in 1970. John Zenzen (center) probably got to drive the car below . Adrain Mattson(right) served in the Army in World War I. He always kept his tie straight.
In 1954 Father Nolan purchased an old trolley for the playground at Sacred Heart School. These photos come from Father Nolan’s streetcar movie in the Minnesota Streetcar Museum collection. Moving the trolley was quite … Read more
In 1942 a small group of Robbinsdale men went north with he US Army to began construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway. Work crews nicknamed the supply route, “oil can highway” after the discarded fuel drums … Read more
The Robbinsdale Airport opened in 1919, but civilian flying was halted during World War II. In 1942 the Robbinsdale Airport’s 23 planes were organized as part of the Civilian Air Patrol. Most of the … Read more
In the middle of the last century Robbinsdale was the only area suburb with a high school and West Broadway was the only shopping district between Minneapolis and Osseo. In 1961 more than 21,000 were enrolled in the Robbinsdale School District and homecoming was a big event! Mayor Walter J.(Red) Sochacki, who spent many years as the Robbinsdale High School Football and Basketball coach, brought the parade downtown.The tradition held for several decades.
Lee Elementary School on 36th Avenue opened in 1948. Two years later and addition was built. The Adiar Elementary in 1952 alowed the old school on Regent to become a junior high and high school. … Read more
After partaking in twenty battles, being captured by the enemy and wounded twice, Civil War veteran, Jay E. Nash found his way to Minnesota from Massachusetts in 1869. He purchased forty acres on the east … Read more
In 1921 Amy Robbins earned this entry in “American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Vol. 9”, by William Richard Cutter. The book was published by The American Historical Society, Inc of New York.
WARE, Amy (Robbins),
Author, Red Cross Worker in France.
Amy (Robbins) Ware, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, daughter of Andrew Bonney and Adelaide Julia (Walker) Robbins, is of Colonial ancestry. She is a lineal descendant of the “Mayflower Pilgrim,” John Howland, through Captain Abraham Shaw (American Revolution), Captain Shaw’s daughter being Mary (Shaw) Robbins, mother of Andrew Bonney Robbins.
It was in Minneapolis, Minnesota, under the hospitable roof of her mother’s brother, Thomas Barlow Walker, that Amy Robbins was born, September 7, 1877.
Much of the active interest in art which has motivated the life of Amy Robbins originated in the hours spent from earliest childhood among the art treasures of the T. B. Walker Collection. From the age of eight she was a devotee of the violin, studying and later teaching that instrument. She graduated from East Minneapolis High School, 1896, specializing in architecture, which profession she practiced until 1898. She was graduated from the University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Science, 1901. She studied applied-design, woodcarving, leather and jewelry, in summer schools of Minneapolis Handicraft Guild, 1905-06. She received the degree of Master of Arts, University of Minnesota, 1907; major in dramaturgy, historic-design, archaeology.
She married J. R. Ware, August 14, 1907. Residence, “The Orchard,” Robbinsdale. She established “Orchard Crafts Guild,” 1908. She traveled on the continent, 1913-14.
Coming of a family who for generations have “served with the colors,” it was inevitable that Amy (Robbins) Ware should take part in the World War as soon as her own country became involved, and devote herself to the cause. April 6, 1917, (the day the United States declared war), Mrs. Ware entered the American School of Telegraphy, studying Morse and Radio Telegraphy, remaining until July, 1917. She conducted the Radio Department, Women’s Naval Service Inc. Training School, teaching both day and night classes from September, 1917, to March, 1918. She was accepted as a canteen worker, American Red Cross, and sailed for France on “La Touraine,” March 14, 1918.
September Meeting Announcement Tuesday, September 24th at 1pm the Robbinsdale Public Safety Building (Fire and Police Building). Special guest speaker Darryl Sannes is a Civil War expert and will share information about Minnesota’s part … Read more