Weekend Showcase: Robbinsdale Puts History on Display

The Robbinsdale Historical Society has teamed up with the Robbin Gallery to mark Robbinsdale’s 125th birthday this year.

“One of the things we wanted to get involved in was displaying the things nobody sees,” said Pete Richie of the Robbinsdale Historical Society.

In 1924 a housing development called McNair Manor began selling lots along Victory Memorial Drive.

“The really goofy thing that the McNair Manor people did was they put out a thimble. So when you bought a house you got a McNair Manor thimble,” said Richie.

You will be able to see that history, as well as a section dedicated to the 1800s that includes the Hubbard manufacturing plant.

You’ll also be able to explore the stories behind the names synonymous with early 20th century Robbinsdale. If you went to school in Robbinsdale from the 1930s into the 1960s, E.J. Cooper was your school superintendent, but he had a life before that.

“We have E.J. Cooper’s World War I flying ace uniform,” said Richie.

There’s also a whole section dedicated to the Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame, plus a tribute to the Cootie, a children’s game invented in Robbinsdale, the former Terrace Theatre, the Robbinsdale Diggers Garden Club. Plus did you know that Robbinsdale boasts the country’s oldest city band, tracing its roots back to 1908.

“There’s just all sorts of things we managed to pull out of the closet. The gallery’s full of surprises,” Richie said.

The Robbinsdale quasquicentennial history exhibit is open through Feb. 24. 
More information: http://www.robbingallery.org/

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