1947
The August 20th edition of the Robbînsdale Post reported that the Robbinsdale City Band won the Minnesota State Fair Championship for the third time in a row under Paul Larson, director, and Léon Chelmosky, drillmaster. Paul Larson was the bands director from 1938 to 1942 and again in 1946 and 1947. Dr. Frank Simon, formerly a solo cornetist under John Phillip Sousa described the bands performance, “The music, marching and showmanship of this band is superb. Of all the bands I have listened to and judged, I have never come across a band that is, as a unit, so nearly perfect. …I couldn’t have seen and heard a better show if I had gone to New York or Radio City. It was the most enjoyable half hour I have ever spent. The director Paul Larson showed outstanding showmanship.”
John Rosengren, Eugene Uglem, and Robert Baldwin met to organize a chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, with about 20 members. The objective was to help young men develop abilities and have experience in the business and civic activities. They first sponsored a city baseball team and in 1949 sponsored the first local candidate for Queen of the Lakes— Joan Turgeon. Another Robbinsdale resident, Helen Stoeffer Madden who had been Homecoming Queen at Robbinsdale High School in 1950, and Miss Golden Valley in 1951, became Queen of the lakes in 1951. In 1952, Miss Robbinsdale, Joan Melberg, went on to become Queen of the Lakes. Another Miss Robbinsdale who became Queen of the Lakes was Catherine Steinert, 1975, and Vicki Johnson Barkley became an Aquatennial Princess in 1973. Miss Robbinsdale of 1961-62, Marlene Kringstad, has become a well-known actress under the name of Kathryn Leigh Scott. The Junior Chamber of Commerce is no longer connected with the Chamber of Commerce. Other activities of this group, later known as the Robbinsdale Jaycees have included helping the needy
(Christmas baskets, snow shoveling, etc.) and help to the town. The first president was John (Jack) Rosengren, who was followed by Eugene Uglem, Robert (Bob) Baldwin and Richard Dennis.
At a special election, voters overwhelmingly (1188-606) voted for municipal liquor. The Wagner Cafe’s fixtures and lease were purchased to house the liquor establishment. The Alcan and Camelot applied for beer licenses. There were many headaches in setting up the new venture, but profits have helped our taxes over the years.
Robbinsdale’s “lady mailman” celebrated Elizabeth Titus celebrated 25 years of seeing to it that the 406 families she served on Hennepin County’s Rural Route 11 received their letter and packages.Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night ever stayed her from the swift completion of her appointed rounds.
This post is part of a series loosely based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett.