1941
On January 8th, a fire causing $50,000 in damage to several business places, was started by the water heater in the bowling alley at 4123 West Broadway. Completely destroyed buildings included the bowling alley, Levine’s Ice Cream Parlor, Glint Wilson real estate office, and Lawrence Olson’s barber shop. Damaged buildings included Schuller Brothers’ appliance store, Sessing hardware store, Town Toggery and the National Tea Company at 4107-9 West Broadway.
On Sunday, May 4, a fire at the Howard Lumber Yard, which Mr. Howard had bought in 1913, did $30,000 damage. Two horses were housed there and burned to death and a fireman, Walter Sipe, sprained his ankle. Sipe served on the fire department for 26 years, 1926-1962. Peter Kimball, a teamster for the lumber yard, often gave children a ride on the lumber wagon and they loved the horses. The fire was so bad that Minneapolis sent out two pumpers.
One news item said there were so many fires in the business district in the early days because the steam locomotives pulling passenger trains showered the business district with cinders. Some were, of course, caused by the heating equipment of those days.
on August 4th, 12,000 people attended a Robbinsdale Goodwill Days parade and waterball contest. The Osseo Fire Department won the waterball prize for the @nd year in a row. Proceeeds went to raise money for the Robbinsdale Fireman’s Relief Association.
Robbinsdale High School became a sports power house in the 1940’s. One of the school’s first sports stars, Vern Gagne excelled in football, baseball, boxing and wrestling. Gagne won district, regional and state championships in high school wrestling, as well as being named to the All-State Football Team. Gagne went on to become a professional wrestler, promoter and 16-time American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion.