Remember Robbinsdale?

Robbinsdale, incorporated as a city in 1938, has a long and varied background, but not always under the name of Robbinsdale.In 1860 the area was organized as the Township of Crystal Lake with a total vote of 55. The city of Minneapolis in 1886 made an effort to annex all townships bordering on its limits, … Read more

The Suburban Motel

Isabelle Jackson was born in St. Paul back in 1902. Her family moved to Minneapolis when she was just two years old. After she graduated fro the University of Minnesota she Married Rollin Jackson. In 1956 the couple built the Suburban Hotel just up the road in Crystal. Rollin and Isabelle operated the motel until … Read more

The Loring Cascade Then and Now

One of the most notable, attractive and appropriate additions in the history of our park system undoubtedly is the ingeniously and beautifully executed artificial cascade, built at Glenwood Park by Mr. Francois Scotti at the direction of and as a gift to the city from The Honorable Charles M. Loring. The cascade is located on … Read more

Quarry Park, Granite City

A picturesque Of granite quarry in St. Cloud. Its memorial and building stone has this City known as the Granite City of Minnesota. A St. Cloud treasure, Quarry Park (used to be Hundred Acres Quarry) is the largest park in beautiful Stearns County. Pack a lunch and have a look at the early granite industry … Read more

Welcome to Wong’s

EXCELLENCE ORIENTAL STYLE An evening at Howard Wong’s is an occasion for excellence. Choose from such Chinese delicacies as Hung Shew Guy (Cantonese Bar-B-Qued Chicken) or specially prepare& Wor Shew Opp (Mandarin Pressed Duck) or sample from a lavish hors d’oeuvres tray featuring fried Won Tons and Howard Wong’s nationally famous egg rolls. Wong’s complete … Read more

Movie Nites

The Uptown opened as the Lagoon Theater in 1913.  After new sound equipment was installed, the theater’s name was  changed on  April 11, 1929. The Uptown was  rebuilt and redesigned by the architectural  firm of Liebenberg and  Kaplan after a fire tore through the building in 1939. The theater was closed briefly in 1975 but … Read more

The Parkway Motor Hotel

Some folks say the estimated number of motels in America tripled between 1940 and 1960. People on the move with money to spend found modern motels with well-appointed rooms out on the edges of just about every metropolitan area. Air conditioning, television, radios, tiled bathrooms, easy chairs, coin operated vibrating beds, swimming pools and movie … Read more

Maple Plain State Bank Then and Now

On May 5, 1905, John Haven, Austin B. Morse and E. J. Cranston set up and the State Bank of Maple Plain. The first bank building was built the same year. The bank assumed the assets and liabilities of the State Bank of Lyndale, Minnesota in 1927. A new facility was built on the east … Read more

On Christmas Lake

The old home that became the Glen Morris Inn on Christmas Lake was built in the late 1800’s for Manitoba Railroad civil engineer, Charles J. Morris. The original two story residence was described in Diamond’s Tourist newspaper as, “one of the most beautiful estates in the area.” Morris owned 1000 acres on Christmas Lake and … Read more