Rapid Strides

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 … Read more

Our Parker School House

On September 16, 1889 a community meeting was held to consider a new schoolhouse. The voters of the district later appropriated the huge sum of $10,000 to build the school. Ground was broken on March … Read more

A.B. Robbins Arrives

  This is the second in a series we’ve put together to share Roberta Lee Scoville’s Robbinsdale History paper from 1976.  The image at the top of the post features our old village hall and … Read more

Robbinsdale Park Additions

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 … Read more

Good Old Gus

1891 Mr. Robbins was interested in attracting people to the village and in order to make it more convenient for those who might live here and continue to carry on business in the city, he … Read more

The New Robbinsdale Book is Here!

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s library is “Robbinsdale” by local author Pete Richie. The pictorial history book, released on July 7th, 2014, uses black and white photographs to showcase Robbinsdale’s compelling history.

While serving in the state legislature, Andrew B. Robbins visited the lakes, woods and rolling hills just north of Minneapolis. Inspired by the landscape and potential for development, he purchased 90 acres and created the Robbinsdale Park subdivision in 1887. Robbins worked tirelessly to bring schools, industry and a streetcar line to the area. In 1893 Robbinsdale incorporated as a village bearing his name.

Images of America: Robbinsdale provides readers with a complete history of what started out as a lake-side village. It includes several photos of the 16-room  mansion Robbins built in his estate and other notable houses. This book includes rare images from this early suburb and captures memorable days of dancing, boating and entertaining.

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About Robbinsdale

Introduction Robbinsdale was named for entrepreneur, politician, and real estate developer Andrew Bonney Robbins. While serving in the Minnesota State Senate, Robbins often passed through the area just north of Minneapolis by train. He was … Read more