Don’t Be a Tin Can Slacker!

There were other things we’d rather forget, the freakish wind storms of 1923 and 1924, when so many trees were torn down and small houses disturbed, and the KU KLUX KLAN of Minneapolis meeting on … Read more

Crystal Lake Township and the Village

This is the third in a series of posts featuring Dorthy Hartig’s History of Robbinsdale. This informal account was written for the Robbinsdale Library Club in 1948. A copy was placed Lee’s School’s cornerstone time … Read more

Robbins Landing

1976 On January 30, ground was broken for the Senior Citizen Building, “Robbins Landing.” William Radloff, the senior citizen who lobbied for the building, was Master of Ceremonies. Andrea Bonney Scott, a granddaughter of Andrew … Read more

Crystal Lake and Sacred Heart

1973 Aeration pumps, which keep water open all winter, began operation in Crystal Lake on October 22. This was after much arguing about, “what if some kid . . .” Thus began the annual migration … Read more

Waking up in the 70’s

1970 Census: 16,845 (The highest population Robbinsdale has ever had) The decade of the seventies included both heartaches and good events for our town. The closing of the Library and the Junior High School saddened … Read more

M is for Milo

1968 Mr. Milo M. Mielke retired as Principal of Robbinsdale High School after 39 years in the district. Mr. Mielke was born in 1902 and was raised in Kenyon, Minnesota. He graduated from St. Olaf … Read more

Robbinsdale was Someplace Else

1967 The Crystal Lake Water Study Committee was appointed by the City Council to study the problems of Crystal Lake which, by now, was considered a “dead” lake. Frank Litherland was elected chairman. Others on … Read more

Cooper Retires

1965 One of the two earliest landmarks, the former First Congregational Church, was demolished on March 3rd to make room for a filling station, later occupied by Pilgrim’s Cleaners and other shops. The area had … Read more

Growing the Library

1960 Census: 16,381 (a 45% increase since 1950) The decade of the sixties included a new bank, filtration plants, the revival of Crystal Lake, the formation of the Housing Authority and another school because of … Read more