1942
The 40 fliers and 25 ground crew men and women of Robbinsdale’s Civil Air Patrol, part the Minnesota State Guard, completed a 230 hour ground school in basic and specialized training at the Robbinsdale Airport. The Robbinsdale squadron had 23 planes all 50-75 horsepower two-seater “cubs”. Their cruising speeds ranged from 80 to 90 miles per hour, but they could fly as fast as 100 and as slow as 60. The slower speed was of high value for scouting. Their ceilings averaged around 13,000 feet, but private pilots were restricted to altitudes below 3,500 unless they carried two-way radios. The fliers were all volunteer without compensation of any kind, they furnished their own planes, services, gas and oil. The Robbinsdale Airport closed after the war. It was located just north of town, where Welcome Park is today.
Eleven women met as a Red Cross nutrition class to learn how to feed their families under World War II shortages. Mrs. Richard (Georgia) Delaney was the first president and teacher of the class.
There was a national effort to promote Victory gardens to ease the food shortage. Mrs. L. A. (Agnes) Wright suggested the name “Diggers” and so the Diggers Garden Club was born in 1944, with Mrs. Delaney as president. Following World War II their attention shifted to flowers and beautification of the world around them, and The Diggers became affiliated with the Minnesota Horticulture Society. They also held their first flower show in the Library. Flower shows became an annual event and Digger entries in other shows have won many ribbons and awards.
In 1975 Orpha Kranz received the Silver Award from the Fifth District Garden Clubs for her dedication and work for civic improvement and environmental projects.
This post is part of a series loosely based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett.