The Century Turns
1900 Census 520 The first decade of the Twentieth Century was a busy one for our “small town.” A library club was formed. An official volunteer fire department was organized. There was an active Commercial … Read more
Robbinsdale
Haakon and the Village Hall
1888 The late 1880’s were busy ones for this area. Haakon Christensen, born in Oslo, Norway, in 1859, first visited Robbinsdale to attend the laying of the cornerstone of the Seminary. He returned shortly after, … Read more
A School on the Stillman Farm
1865 After the Civil War ended and the military reservation was reduced, the settlement of Minneapolis, Crystal Lake, and other towns developed rapidly. The first school for District No. 24 was built in 1865 was … Read more
The Brooklyn-Crystal Cemetery
1863 In all pioneer communities there comes a time when people decide to bury their loved ones in an official cemetery — rather than under a favorite tree on the home farm. On November 20, … Read more
The Activities of Adelaide
Adelaide Walker Robbins (Mrs. Andrew Bonney), Robbinsdale, born. 1847, Zenia, Ohio, daughter Anstis Barlow Walker and Piatt Bayless Walker; 1855 moved to Berea, Ohio, entered Baldwin University at twelve; distinguished in mathematics, youngest in class … Read more
Olivet United Methodist Church
Olivet is the first congregation organized after the 1946 merger of the Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The first worship service for Olivet took place in Robbinsdale at remodeled … Read more
A Swift Postcard
Born in Boston in 1848, George Swift came to Minnesota with his parents. At the age of 13, Swift enlisted as a drummer boy at Fort Snelling. During the War Between the States … Read more
Princess, His Bride
A gay young prince of the house of Hapsburg brought a gold leaf console table out of the palace of a swarthy Florentine doge 500 years ago and sent it on the backs of the … Read more
Go to McNair Manor!
McNair Manor was named for attorney and businessman William McNair. Born in 1836, McNair served as county attorney and mayor of St. Anthony from 1869 to 1871. In 1876 he was the Democratic nominee for … Read more