Andrew B. Robbins Born: 1845 in Phillips, Maine
Elected 1893
Robbins had a nose for opportunity and as a former state senator and the brother-in-law of lumber baron, Thomas Barlow Walker, he was well connected and well financed. Robbins purchased 90 acres to the west of Lower Twin Lake. He platted much of the area as the Robbinsdale Park subdivision, but reserved 20 acres of lake shore for his estate. The summer of 1888 brought the first land boom. New industries moved in and a large Lutheran Seminary was built. The architect, L.J. Nasset was recruited to design the Crystal Village Hall . His brother Lars Nasset purchased land from Robbins and opened a general store just down the street. Haakon Christensen, a Norwegian immigrant who came to town to see the opening of the seminary decided to stay and open a blacksmith shop. In October 1888 Robbins began work on on his Northern Car Company. The trolley manufacturing firm would eventually employ 150 people.
In 1890 the Robbins built a 16 room Queen Anne-style fantasy of turrets, porches and dormers. The house had five fireplaces, electricity and indoor plumbing. Robbins landscaped the estate with 8 acres of lawn, walks, fountains, shrubs and two tree-lined entrance roads. Inspired by Richard Chute, who purchased 2000 trees for the Village of St. Anthony in 1858, Robbins lined the streets of his Robbinsdale Park subdivision with willows, white curl leaf birch, oaks and elms. He worked tirelessly to grow the village into the sort of suburb he imagined lay outside the great cities of the east. The same year he moved his family to Robbinsdale, he gathered investors and built the Hubbard Specialty Manufacturing Company. The firm made chairs and wheelbarrows. Despite his connections, Robbins was unable to persuade the Minneapolis Street Railway Company to extend a streetcar line up West Broadway. In 1891 he organized the North Side Street Railway Company and built his own line from the Minneapolis city limits to Robbinsdale Park. The street cars were pulled by horses until the line was converted to electricity in 1897.
Eventually, Robbins’ development efforts and proposed improvements led to some tension between residents near the business portion of the village and farm families on the outskirts. On March 24, 1893, a special election was held and a vote to dissolve the Village of Crystal carried unanimously. On April 19 of the same year, the new 2.9 square mile village of Robbinsdale was organized with A.B. Robins as the first village council president.
Thomas H. Girling Born: 1865 in Nottinghamshire , England
Elected 1896
Thomas H. Girling, born in England in 1865, had considerable impact as a publisher and civic leader in Robbinsdale. He had learned the printing business and in February, 1893, started publishing the weekly “Picturesque Robbinsdale.” He took the lead in getting the Crystal Hill cut down nine feet and the road graded and later paved. The steep hill on Crystal Avenue (now West Broadway near Minneapolis) was a much traveled road those days, with teams lining up in caravans, ten or twenty in a line. The steep hill was a real problem.
The saloon fund was in good condition, then as now, and the council voted $1,000 out of this fund if the County Commissioners would vote $2,000, which they did, for cutting down the hill. He later worked to get the road to Osseo paved (now West Broadway) and later the Rockford Road in 1922. He was also Robbinsdale’s second mayor.
John W. Hayes Born: 1860 in Ontario, Canada
Elected 1897
Hayes previously served as Robbinsdale’s Village Recorder.
Andrew B. Robbins
Elected 1900*
John W. Hayes
Elected 1901*
Gustave (Gus) Julius Urban Born: 1869 in Perevalovo, Germany
Elected 1904
Gus Urban, an employee of J. J. Coulter Meat Market, joined with Ed Bodem to purchase the meat market. In 1882 Urban became sole owner until 1922 when Kurt Hoffman bought it. In 1938 prices listed in ads were pork loin roasts, 20 cents a pound; pork chops, end cut, 18 cents a pound; sugar cured picnics, 18 cents a pound. In 1960 Herbert, Harold, and Reinhart Hackenmueller bought the meat market from Kurt Hoffman’s son, Kurt, and changed the name to Hackenmueller Meats (4159 West Broadway). They ran the meat market for twenty years, selling to Gordon Lindenfelsor in 1980. The meat market is by far the oldest continuing business in Robbinsdale in the same spot.
Urban enjoyed fishing in the Brainerd area. After he retired he bought 80 acres of lake shore property for $850. Over the years, he sold quite a few small, 50-foot lots to his Robbinsdale pals and business partners. Urban Point Road in Crosslake, Minnesota is named in his honor.
Henry Scott Born: 1843 in Hampshire in England
Elected 1906
Mr. Scott also served as a Justice of the Peace.
Charles Schuller Born:1867 in Crystal Lake Township (Later Robbinsdale)
Elected 1908
Charles Schuller, owner of the first hardware store in Robbinsdale, started in the farm machinery business on what is now West Broadway in about 1898. He had been raised on a farm in Crystal. After living elsewhere for awhile, he came back to Robbinsdale. In 1904, he erected a store building near 41st Avenue North and West Broadway. The Schuller family with five children lived in the 11 rooms above the store. In those days such things as a horse harness, stove black, kerosene lantern, buggy, wagon, automobile, implement, binder twine and grind stone were sold at Schuller’s. An old flying Dutchman complete with the wings on top of the store advertise the fact that a certain brand a farm equipment was sold there.
During his term as mayor, Schuller was accused of allowing the village to sink into ill repute due to lax enforcement of liquor laws. Newspapers were reporting that the town was divided to a child into factions. One either agreed with the Mayor Charles Schuller and the Village Council that Robbinsdale was a law abiding hamlet or believed the town was on the road to perdition and the authorities were in league with evil. The dispute arose around the enforcement of liquor laws. Several saloons, but mostly one known as “The Point”, were accused of staying open past closing time on Sundays. Minnesota Attorney General, David F. Simpson issued an ultimatum. He told Mayor Schuller that he must either rigidly enforce the village liquor laws or resign. Simpson received additional complaints. A hearing was held in St. Paul on August 18th, the Attorney General again asked the Mayor to resign over this matter and threatened to began proceedings against the mayor on the grounds of malfeasance. Mayor Schuller prepared to fight the Attorney General in court. Feelings were high strung. Village Councilman, T.A. Tyler, fainted on street corner while discussing that matter with residents. At a rowdy town hall meeting held on August 25th, the father of the village, Andrew B. Robbins rose to restore order beseeching the crowd,
” Gentleman let us act in a businesslike way. Our town has been given much ill repute over this matter. Let us not besmirch it any further.”
The liquor trouble was finally settled in September after another hearing with the Minnesota Attorney General. The Village Council promised it would appoint a special policeman to keep watch and ensure that laws against selling liquor after 11:00pm on Sundays were strictly enforced.
The Schuller Hardware and the houses on either side of it burned to the ground in the winter 1925. The family escaped unscathed and Schuller rebuilt about a block away. The business grew into the Schuller and Schlosser Appliance store that operated at 41st and West Broadway for decades.
Fred Webb Born: 1849 in Thames, Oxfordshire, England
Elected 1910
Webb suffered a “stroke of paralysis” and died in office.
George O. Johnson
Elected 1910*
One of our first volunteer firefighters, Johnson previously served as a Trustee for the Village of Crystal, Treasurer for the Village of Robbinsdale and as an officer of the Crystal-Brooklyn Cemetery. The Johnson’s farmed 78 acres just north of town on Johnson Road.
A.W. Hawkins: Born in 1839
Elected 1912
Hawkins was with General Ulysses S.Grant at the start of a big campaign in the Civil war and was said to have been the first to plant the union flag on the cannon of a confederate stronghold in Belmont, Missouri. Hawkins was a pioneer resident of Robbinsdale. He enlisted in the union cause at the age of21 and served as a lieutenant of the Seventh Iowa regiment. he figured prominently in the battles at Port Henry, Shiloh and with General Sherman in his march to the sea. At tho battle of Belmont, the color bearer of the regiment refused to carry the colors so Hawkins volunteered. Hawkins was a private at the time. General Grant’s forces routed the enemy in that first battle of his southern campaign. Hawkins was the first across the line and planted the union flag on the cannons of the confederates. As a result he was made a lieutenant and served through the remainder of the campaign in that position. Hawkins moved to Robbinsdale in 1870.
W.H. Johnson
Elected 1914
Johnson organized a Robbinsdale branch of the American Red Cross and spearheaded relief efforts in Robbinsdale during the First World War.
William Saunders Born: 1864 in Illinois
Elected 1916
Saunders was an early snow bird. He spent winters in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. William Saunders was an active member of the Robbinsdale Library Club.
Thomas P. Howard Born: 1880 in Mauston, Wisconsin
Elected in 1920
Howard was president of the First Robbinsdale State Bank from, 1921-53 and a charter member of the Lions Club. Howard bought the lumber yard on 42nd and Hubbard Avenue North back in 1913. For many years the Howard Lumber wagon and Mr. Howard’s Onyx Coal truck were familiar sites on the streets of Robbinsdale. The company’s teamster, Peter Kimball lived about a block from the yard. Kimball was fond of children and riding one of his horses was a common experience for Robbinsdale kids.
Howard’s wife, Alma K. Howard is remembered as a civic leader and president of Howard Lumber Company after Howard’s death. Her home, built about 1915, at 4100 Quail Avenue, was in many details typical of the Prairie School of Architecture, as first sketched by Frank Lloyd Wright. The home was later occupied by another bank president, Kenneth Sheehan of First Bank Robbinsdale.
Henry Uglem Born: 1887 in Cerro Gordo, Minnesota
Elected 1924
In March, Henry Uglem (above) defeated Tom Howard and F.D. White to win a three cornered fight for mayor. Uglem had 338 votes to Howard’s 253. White took 213 votes. Uglem intermediately went to work persuading the Minneapolis City Council and the Robbinsdale’s citizen’s that a merger by way of annexation would be advantageous. In September, petitions were circulated and the 100 signatures necessary to take a vote were obtained.
Uglem was arrested for embezzlement and larceny.After he was convicted of stealing over $4,000, Uglem was sent to Stillwater to serve 10 years. He won a parole in 1932.
Harvey A. Morse Born: 1883 in Peabody, Kansas
Elected 1927
Morse is remembered as the founder of the Lions Club and former president of the Charter Commission. He also served the Northside YMCA for 25 years. Morse lived at 4031 40th Avenue North and worked as secretary for Carter-Mayhew Manufacturing
Clyde F. Burfeind: Born: 1881 in Minneapolis
Elected 1929
Burfeind was an advocate of Annexation to the City of Minneapolis. When the proposal failed to gain the necessary support he appealed for a recount. During his term as Mayor, Burfeind had Eward M. Peterson, the treasurer of Crystal Village arrested on traffic charges. Peterson sued Burfeind for $1000 on grounds of malicious persecution. Hennepin County District Court sided with Peterson and granted acquittals.
Willard Randall Born: 1880 in Minneapolis
Elected 1931
Lived at 3939 Regent Avenue. Mr. Randall and his wife had three daughters, Harriet, Agnes and Dorthy. The Randalls were long time members of the First Congregational Church. Their son Willard is remembered as one of Robbinsdale High School’s first great wrestlers.
T.A. Mackenzie Born: 1865 in Edinburgh, Scotland
Elected 1933
Came to America in 1898. He was a former member of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police and served with the British Army in Egypt. He served on the Village Council fro threes years and made his living as a traffic manager for Janey, Semple, Hill and Company. Mackenzie lived at 3315 Abbott Avenue North.
William J. Kranz Born: 1895 in Minnneapolis
Elected 1934
Kranz made a name for himself in the construction business. Before he has elected as its president, Kranz served on the Village Council from 1928-1934. A veteran of World War I, he was a lifetime member and past commander of Westphal American Legion Post 251. Kranz lived for many years at 4038 Lake Road.
Many complaints had been received by the Council about the water quality (which was being obtained from Minneapolis) Under Kranz, the Village purchased land from Mrs. Edith Robbins Daniel for $18,000 on July 12, 1937, at 41st and Hubbard. Mass meetings were held and on August 14, 1936, Kranz and the Village Council (Oscar Johnson, Hess Linderholm, Wm. Ambrose, Charles Wallace ) voted unanimously to install a well and water tank. Work began on October 18,1937.
The September 30, 1938, Minneapolis Tribune reported the City Council on September 19 had approved the new Home Rule Charter as presented by Ralph F. Peterson, chairman of the Charter Commission. A charter commission had been at work for a long time drawing up a
Charter for the village. On November 7, 1938, the vote to change from a village to a City was carried. On December 8, 1938, at 8:00 p.m. the new charter was officially adopted and the City of Robbinsdale was born. During the forty-five years of its history as a village, Robbinsdale was served by many presidents of the village boards; from the days of A. B. Robbins in 1893, to William G. Kranz in 1938, the last to serve. Most of these folks were commonly referred to as mayor, but the title of Village Council President didn’t officially became known as the Mayor and Trustees, as AIdermen until after the home rule charter was approved.
Joseph William Roche Born:1889 in Winneshiek, Iowa,
Elected 1938
Another World War I veteran, avid trout fisherman and First Robbinsdale State Bank President, Roche served as Village Clerk before he was elected to the office of mayor. He held the office for three terms and has fond of telling people how he was elected to his third term the same year Franklin D. Roosevelt has elected to his third term as President of the United States.
Roche also served as President of the Robbinsdale Businessman’s Association. Roche lowered property taxes and is remembered for organizing elaborate Memorial Day parades as the 4th Commander of Westphal American Legion Post 251.
Henry Uglem Born: 1887 in Cerro Gordo, Minnesota
Elected 1944*
During his second appearance as Mayor of Robbinsdale, Uglem was generally the lone City Council minority vote. On September 14th, 1945, Uglem presented a community purse containing over $230 dollars to Mr. and Mrs. Howard J. Hollister so they could attend the launching of a U.S. Navy Destroyer named for their three sons killed in action. Uglem was ousted by the City Council after he transferred his residence to 1814 Morgan Avenue North in Minneapolis.
Hezzard (Hess) Linderholm Born: 1904 in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
Elected 1946
Served as acting Mayor after Ulgem was ousted. A longtime Robbinsdale resident, Linderholm was a city Council Member and Volunteer Fireman for many years.
Charles O. Wallace Born: 1900 in Sloan, Iowa
Elected 1947
Wallace moved to Robbinsdale with his family in 1900. Wallace was the Village Recorder in 1937. A year later he became Robbinsdale’s first city clerk. He held office from 1938 until 1945. He served his first stretch as mayor from 1947-1954. Wallace formally dedicated a new fire and police station on Hubbard Avenue in1949. As part of the ceremony, a siren blew and the firemen marched from their old home in back of the City Hall on Broadway to the new quarters on Hubbard. Free coffee, doughnuts and ice cream were distributed to the public and the Robbinsdale and Anoka City Bands played. Wallace handed over huge keys to Police Chief Matthew Spurzem and Fire Chief Frank Cherveny. Today the building is used as the Hubbard Transit Station.
Robert A. Merwin Born: 1914 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Elected 1954
Merwin squeaked into office after a recount confirmed a four vote margin over Walter Sochacki. In December, 1948, the Minneapolis Star reported the merger talks between city officials in Robbinsdale and Crystal were being proposed. Mayor Merwin of Robbinsdale said the merger could save tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating duplication in public services. It was predicted the new community could be home to over 50,000 could in less than ten years time. Although Mayor Princeton in Crystal said he wouldn’t care if the new town was called Robbinsdale, the naming of the new community was predicted to be a thorny issue. Crystaldale? Robbincrys? In 1960, Mayor Merwin Resigned after he bought a house one block into Crystal.
John Joe Johnson Born: 1907 in St. Paul, Minnesota
1960
Served as an Alderman and acting Mayor after Merwin resigned
Walter Sochacki Born: 1910 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Elected 1960
Mayor Walter “Red” Sochacki was described by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as a “Teacher, coach, environmentalist politician and union leader with feminist tendencies.” Sochacki became Robbinsdale’s football coach in 1937. The team was undefeated that year. At the age of 33 Sochacki volunteered for the U.S. Navy and ran physical training for cadets. His 1943 Robbinsdale football team featured Vern Gagne. That one only lost the final game of the season.
As president of the local teacher’s union, in the early 1950’s, Sochaki caused a stir when he demanded equal wages for men and women. He also raised eyebrows when he had visiting African-American Olympian Jesse Owens stay in his home. He might not seem like a radical by today’s standards, but back then Robbinsdale was an all white community, women did not get paid as much as men and Mr. Sochaki was out on a limb. He served on the Robbinsdale Park Board before he became Mayor. Sochaki thought of Robbinsdale as a residential community and was a fierce opponent of North Memorial’s expansion plans. In 1984, Sochacki Park was named for the former mayor at the insistence of the former owner of the 34 acres that now comprise the city’s largest park.
Charles O. Wallace Born: 1915 in Sloan, Iowa
Elected 1966*
Nobody was surprised when Captain Billy Fawcett’s barber stepped into the mayors office for a second time. Wallace worked for T.V. Everson and Associates as a municipal bond consultant. He spent 20 years as a Robbinsdale Volunteer Fireman and 44 years on North Memorial Medical Center’s Board of Trustees. Wallace received the WCCO Good Neighbor Award Twice.
During this time Wallace worked with a Charter Commission led by City Attorney Peter Ruffenach redraft the 52-page City Charter to conform more nearly with model charters. One difference the Robbinsdale Charter Commission wanted was the staggered elections, in order to assure some continuity on the City Council. Because of the continuing deterioration of homes in Robbinsdale, the Wallace and the City Council established the Robbinsdale Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Old state statutes were discovered by City Manager, George DeLay, that made this possible. Together with City Attorney, Peter-J. (Pete) Ruffenach, doing the legal work, the “scattered site” program was begun. This was the first Housing Authority in Minnesota in a small city. Tax increment financing was used for redevelopment purposes. About 150 houses were identified where the house value was less than the value of the land on which it stood. Many were “garage” houses—built temporarily on the back of the lot in the 1930’s until the “big” house could be built but never was. Many were former lake cabins on Beard Avenue when Crystal Lake was much higher. In the first years, the HRA acquired many dilapidated houses for $6,000 to $8,000. The Charter members of the HRA, appointed by Mayor Charles Wallace, were Milo Mielke, Frank Litherland, Hal Mattson, Donald Floyd and Riley Blodgett.
Robbinsdale’s old old City Hall on West Broadway was torn down to make room for a Red Owl grocery store parking lot in 1954. After that the Municipal offices moved into temporary quarters in the police and fire building on Hubbard Avenue. Construction on the new government offices behind Robin Center began in 1968. The Robbinsdale Civic Center was dedicated to Mayor Charles O. Wallace on October 24th, 1970.
James Macdonald Born: 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Elected 1972
Known as the “watch dog” of the Robbinsdale City Council, McDonald defeated former Robbinsdale Police Chief, George Roope. During his term McDonald and the City Council placed a moratorium on rezoning and created a comprehensive downtown redevelopment plan.
Harvey L. Lange Born: 1931
Elected 1976
The site of Lange’s house became a major issue in the 1976 campaign. Lange sold his home to North Memorial for $70,000 while he was on the Robbinsdale City Council. The hospital removed the house to make way for a parking lot. Lange won his first seat on the city council in 1970. Lange became President of the Minnesota Mayors Association in 1976. Four years later he received the Leauge Of Minnesota Cities C.C. Ludwig award for outstanding public service.
Lange lobbied the legislature on a variety of municipal matters including the use of tax increment financing for redevelopment projects and the revision of state aid formulas for municipalities. Lange worked as a program manager for Honeywell. He was also credited with changes to the city’s financial position which resulted in the city’s bond rating rising from a Bb to an A.
Ray Mattson Born: 1926 in in Sebeka, Minnesota
Elected 1980
In 1980, eighty-nine percent of the registered voters in Robbinsdale voted at the presidential election compared to the national average of about 50%. The League of Women Voters sponsored candidates meetings. Raymond Mattson was elected Mayor. Carol Karki (2nd Ward) and William Blonigan (1st Ward) were elected to the city council.
A World War II Navy Veteran and member of the Robbinsdale City Council for 10 years, Mattson helped foster big redevelopment projects like the Terrace Mall, Robbinsdale Town Centre, Lee Square, North Memorial Medical Center Expansion, First Bank’s downtown offices and Copperfield Hill. Mattson owned and operated DolyRae Industries canvas boat over company with his wife Dolly Mattson. The year Mattson was elected Robbinsdale was one of ten Minnesota cities to be named “Tree City, USA” due to the overall tree management program and its concentration on Dutch Elm disease control and reforestation program. This award is given by the National Arbor Day Association, headquartered in Nebraska, and was presented by Governor Quie on April 9. This award was again received in 1981 and 1982.
Joy Robb Born: 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Elected 1988
The “ Mother of Robbinsdale”, Joy grew up on Regent Avenue and graduated from Robbinsdale High in 1952. She went on to receive a degree at Hamline University in 1956. Robb worked at Merrill Lynch for five years where she met her husband. Her involvement in local school issues led to her first election to the Robbinsdale school board in 1984. She was elected Chairperson of the Board in 1986. Robb was elected to her first term as Mayor of Robbinsdale in 1988 and her second term on 1992. As Mayor she was a member of the North Metro Development Association, and the League of Minnesota Cities.
One of her many accomplishments was the “Open Mike” period before every meeting when members of the public could address the school board and then the city council. Robb belonged to many civic organizations including the Minnesota Citizens League, PRISM, Minnesota Center for Women in Government, the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce, Robbinsdale Community Council of Citizens Independent Bank and the Crystal Lake Good Samaritan Center. She was a member of the Robbinsdale Charter Commission and the Robbinsdale Historical Society. She was also a founding member of the Brunswick United Methodist Church
Mike Holtz Born: 1948 in Ham Lake, MInnesota
Elected in 1997
A 1966 graduate of Howard Lake High School, Holtz played basketball, football and baseball, winning six letters. Holtz spent two years in the U.S. Army. When he was elected to the Robbinsdale City Council in 1981, Holtz was the President of the Robbinsdale Jaycees and Vice President of MCB Inc. in Minneapolis. He served for 16 years on the council before running for the mayor’s office in1997. During his term, Holtz participated in the planning of Highway 100 improvements and served on the Highway 100 Council and the Bottineau Boulevard Commission.
He was involved in the Human Rights Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and the French Park Advisory Committee. Holtz also served on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Cable Commission, and was Board Member of the Metro Mayor’s Association. A member of Robbinsdale Lions Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Holtz spent many years as a volunteer with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Youth Sports . In 2011, he received a Lifetime Service Award from the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce.
Regan Murphy Born: 1975 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Elected in 2012
Born and Raised in Robbinsdale, Murphy works as a Sales Representative at Stryker Orthopaedics. He previously served on the Robbinsdale Planning Commission and the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commissions. He was also founding member of the Heart of Robbinsdale Community Foundation. In his first year as a mayor, Murphy worked for free. After campaigning on a promise that he’d donate his first year’s pay, Murphy returned his $10,000 salary to help build the park pavilion in Lakeview Terrace Park. Murphy has been a tireless booster for development.
During his term he has been an active proponent of large scale projects like the new Hy-Vee Grocery Store, the 150 unit Birdtown Flats Apartment Complex and the soon to be, 200 unit Parker Station apartment building currently under construction. Murphy helped attract new businesses like the Wicked Wort Brewery and promoted Robbinsdale’s restaurant led downtown revival. He served on the Blue Line LRT Corridor Management Committee and the North Memorial Community Health Advisory Steering Committee. Murphy is also the Co-Founder of Robbinsdale’s annual Birdtown Half Marathon Race which he has been known to run wearing a kilt.
*Nonconsecutive terms