By H.O. Sonnesyn
editor of the Robbinsdale Post
Robbinsdale was incorporated April 19, 1893, and was named after the late A. B. Robbins, whose daughter, Mrs. Edith Robbins Daniel, still resides here and is secretary of the school board. From a straggling hamlet, it has grown to a city of 6,000 persons.
Sixty percent of our people are employed in Minneapolis, having moved out here to enjoy the suburban atmosphere and yet be close to their places of employment. Yet Robbinsdale is a separate municipality and has its own city government, changed from village form only 13 months ago. Robbinsdale is particularly proud of its school system. A new $400,000 high school building serves both Robbinsdale and Crystal. Efficient instructors teach 1,700 children, and modern educational methods also are in use in an outstanding parochial school.
The late Congressman O. J. Kvale and many other Lutheran pastors were trained for the ministry in Robbinsdale. Theodore Christiansen, former governor of Minnesota, was superintendent of schools in Robbinsdale during the time he was studying law. Haakon Christiansen, who has been in the Robbinsdale post business here for more than 50 years, is Robbinsdale’s oldest businessman.
He still operates the blacksmith shop on West Broadway that he started 50 years ago. He is so punctual that residents set their clocks when they see him going to and from work. Robbinsdale has one of the most modern fire departments in the state. It has a city band that has won statewide attention and that regularly has placed high in State Fair contests. The Robbinsdale High School band also ranks high in its field.
Two beautiful lakes, Crystal and Twin, lend a natural beauty to Robbinsdale and form a setting for many of Robbinsdale’s beautiful homes. Nearly 300 new homes have been erected in the last year. The majority of Robbinsdale residents are homeowners, and those who rent are wage earners. Five churches serve the spiritual needs of the community, and national and international organizations fill the civic and fraternal requirements. We in Robbinsdale are not selfish enough to want to keep our city just to ourselves.
There are acres of ground left for future homes. Why don’t you come up and see us sometime? We know you’ll want to stay.
This article appeared in the Minneapolis Tribune– May 26th, 1940