Charles Schuller, started in the Farm Machinery business with Mr. Garrett in Swift’s Old building on April 30, 1897. He was born and raised on a farm in Crystal. After 1iving elsewhere for a while he came back to Robbinsdale in 1904. He bought a lot from Gus Urban near 41st and West Broadway and put up a building for his Hardware Store. He did a $60,000 business his first year. The family lived in the rooms above the store. Mr. Schuller served as Village Trustee in 1907 and 1908. Was Mayor for one year. The building burned down in 1925, a total loss as he had no insurance. He helped organize Sacred Heart Church. He died March 26, 1939 at the age of 85, was buried in a cemetery lot only: 300 feet from where he was born February 15, 1867. The cemetery was donated by his father. An old “Flying Dutchman”, complete with wings, was on top of the store to advertise a certain brand of farm equipment they sold. One little girl is said to have rushed home after seeing the winged figure a top the store and informed her mother, “Mother, I just saw Jesus on the top of Schuller’s store!”
-This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ J. P. Shumway). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historiocal Society slide show in 1980.
