The Robbinsdale Fire Department 1909-1984

75 Years From hand-carried buckets of water used by bucket brigades to fight fires in the early history of Robbinsdale, the Robbinsdale Volunteer Fire Department has grown into a modern department with sophisticated equipment available … Read more

Our Town’s Story

“It was called Parker Station because the station was right on the railroad tracks there…and Parker was really the first guy who had really put some time and effort into it…” Earl Johnston, Robbinsdale Historical … Read more

A Bright Future

On April 19th, 1893, Robbinsdale was organized as a village, consisting of parts of three sections of the original twenty-four of the township, one third of the territory of Crystal, with ten miles of improved … Read more

The Burial of the Village

1938 Many complaints had been received by the Council about the water quality (which was being obtained from Minneapolis) so the Village purchased land from Mrs. Edith Robbins Daniel for $18,000 on July 12, 1937, … Read more

Bandstand!

1915 In 1914 under the auspices of George 0. Johnson, Arthur L. Jones and J. H. Morse, many money-raising events were held for a bandstand for Robbinsdale Civic Club Band. These included events such as … Read more

Saloons and Sundays

1905 Robbinsdale pioneer, Alfred Parker passed away on April 7th. Compass Lodge 265 A. F. & A. M. was organized September 6. George Swift, Sr. as first master. The charter was granted in January, 1906. … Read more

Anton Wolf’s Hotel

1870 The population of Crystal Lake township was 718. Besides farming, a few industries developed. The first was a shingle mill at Shingle Creek, built in 1852 (everyone needed shingles!) and then a flour mill … Read more

During the Dakota War

1862 Following a cold spring in 1861, hard times came along. The Dakota War of ’62 did not affect the settlers here except to make them nervous. Horartio Stillman bundled his family into his wagon … Read more

Girling Gets There Cheaper than Train Fare

Thomas H. Girling was born in Nottingham, England in 1865. He came to America with his parents in 1872. Thirty years later he opened a small printing business and began publishing a weekly called Picturesque … Read more