1892
At this time our area of Crystal Village seemed to be referred to as Robbinsdale Park because the platted areas were named A. B. Robbins First Addition to Robbinsdale Park,” “Brimhall’s First Addition to Robbinsdale Park,” etc. John Shumway, Nathan Russ, Alfred Parker, Charles Sandborn, H. R. Stillman, C. E. Tyler and others still had large unplatted areas, evidently were still farming, according to an 1898 Atlas. This map showed no Armstrong Lake, possibly it had become a marsh by then. The house pictured above at about 44th and West Broadway was owned by A.B. Robbins and rented to the village blacksmith, Haakon Christensen. Pictured out front in 1890 from left to right are Alfred Parker, Elizabeth and Raleigh Parker, Fred Baker, Jr. and his aunt, Mrs.Guptel, and Mrs Christensen. The house was struck by lightening and burned to the ground in the early 1900’s.
This post is part of a series based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett. Thanks to Jeff Vick for the old map of the church at the top of the post.