Robbinsdale Makes Rapid Strides as Business and Residence Center
6-Year Span Marks Spurt in Popularity
Suburb Is Gateway to Highway Traffic North on Jefferson Road.
Town Now Has 50 Business Establishments—Population 5,000.
Robbinsdale, although incorporated 33 years ago, has shown its most notable development in the last six years, and today it is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Minneapolis, with a thriving business center and attractive residential sections. It is the gateway of all highway traffic on the Jefferson highway to Anoka, St. Cloud, and other northern Minnesota points, as well as the travel to Rockford and Annandale. It is but five miles to the business center of Minneapolis and its excellent street car facilities, its fine public school, and its desirable residential areas have made it one of the most popular suburbs.
Robbinsdale today has a population of more than 5,000, as compared with 1,369 in 1920. The village has:
- Fifty business establishments.
- A commercial organization, known as the Robbinsdale Business Men’s association, with a membership of 30.
- An assessed valuation of approximately $1,500,000.
- A construction program last year of three-quarters of a million dollars.
- A complete water system is now being installed in the village and approximately 20 miles of water mains are being laid.
Harvey A. Morse is mayor of the village; H. E. Clasen, recorder; H. G. Renspies, treasurer; C. F. Burfeind, R. F. Peterson and J. R. Gladwin, trustees; and Clinton F. Wilson, manager.
Officers of the Robbinsdale Business Men’s Association are C. O. Jacks, president, J. W. Roche, vice president, and C. F. Wilson, secretary and treasurer.
The history of the village goes back to 1854 when John Shumway, David Malbon, and others settled near the site of the present business district. Robbinsdale was originally the southeast corner of the Village of Crystal. In 1887 A. B. Robbins made deals for the purchase of land from Mr. Shumway and Mr. Malbon and also from Alfred Parker and George L. Brimhall and proceeded at once to establish Robbinsdale Park. Shortly after this, Mr. Parker platted Parker’s first addition and Mr. Brimhall platted Brimhall’s first addition.
Mr. Robbins beautified the blocks by planting a great number of trees on them. On the southeast shore of Twin Lake, he built a beautiful country home, with extensive grounds of more than 20 acres. He took great delight in planting every kind of tree and shrub suited to the Minnesota climate. He died in 1910. Mrs. Robbins is still living in the old homestead.
The first settlement in the region around Robbinsdale was made in 1854. In 1860, Crystal Lake township was organized, and early settlers participated in the Civil War. In March 1887, the citizens of the western portion of Crystal Lake proceeded to incorporate Crystal Village.The officers chosen at the first election on March 8. 1887 were Arthur Sanborn, president: Thomas Gearty, J. H. White and Philip Kuch, trustees; N. F. Russ. recorder; J. B. Johnson, treasurer; Thomas Kirkwood, assessor; D. C. Crandall and H. R. Stillman, justices of the peace; and Charles Hommes, constable. In 1888 a hall was erected for village and the site was donated by J. S. Malbon.
The location for Robbinsdale Park was picked by Mr. Robbins because it was a slightly rolling, high and well-drained tract. From many points on the tract fine views of the lakes to the east and north were to be had.
Once a Manufacturing Town.
For many years Robbinsdale had the Lutheran Seminary, one of the important educational institutions of the west. The structure was destroyed by fire. It was situated on a 10-acre tract, centrally located in Robbinsdale Park. The main building was a massive brick structure, with stone trimmings and basement. The site was donated by Mr. Robbins, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Brimhall.
Early in the spring of 1881, the Northside Street Railway, having obtained an exclusive franchise from the village for a period of 35 years, proceeded to construct the road from the city limits to Robbinsdale. For some time horse cars were operated over the route, but later electric cars were placed into operation.
In 1893 the village of Crystal was disorganized. Three of the sections in the southeast portion of the territory were incorporated as the village of Robbinsdale.
Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, August 8, 1926
The image at the top of the post features a view of West Broadway looking north just a few years after this article appeared.