THE ISAAC PATCH FAMILY
This picture of the Isaac Patch family was taken in 1892. Isaac Patch Jr., whom we are interested in, is second from the right – back row. He came to Minnesota in 1884 from Vermont, settling on a farm at 31st and Winnetka Avenue. He had to drive several miles by horse and wagon to the Robbinsdale Post Office or to the North Minneapolis Post Office to get his mail and newspaper. Mr. Patch petitioned the Robbinsdale postmaster and the
Federal Post Office Department of Washington D. C. to have Rural Free Delivery started. During the winter of 1899 and 1900 he visited farmers throughout the region between Robbinsdale and Medicine Lake, explaining the project and securing the required 50 signatures of the land owners. Thomas Girling, a member of the State Legislature for many years, added his valued assistance for the plan. The Minneapolis Tribune and the Old Daily News sent their men along the proposed route to get subscribers to their papers, offering a free mail box as a premium to the subscribers.
For a year the mail was delivered under the local post office approval, then the Washington D.C. Department sent out a man to inspect the route before Federal approval was granted. Mr. A. B. Robbins loaned his fine team of horses, his carriage and coachman to take the Federal Inspector around the route following Mr. Patch as he drove the 2S miles delivering mail. Everything was in good order. On October 1901 Rural Free Delivery was officially established in Robbinsdale. There were two routes, a third was added in 1915, but discontinued in 1932 because of faster service using automobiles. R.F.D. was discontinued on March 31, 1938 when the mail service was transferred to Minnespolis. Mr. Patch died March 28, 1905.
From an article by Florence Patch White in the North Hennepibn Post- October 25, 1962
The Patch Family moved to Robbinsdale in 1901. They lived in town while this house near Kentucy Avenue and 42nd was built. The family moved in after it was completed in 1905. Issac Patch’s granddaughter, Helen Blodgett was one of the founders of the Robbinsdale Historical Society and the author of Robbinsdale Then and Now.
This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of Mrs. J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historical Society slide show in 1980. A few details have been updated along the way.