City of Brooklyn Park history

1854 – First school established in Brooklyn Township

Hanscom’s house was the site of the first town meeting on May 11, 1858, when the Township elected officers

Over time the area grew so rapidly, that the cities of Brooklyn Center and Crystal incorporated into their own cities in 1860.

Daughter of Delwan and Sarah Cotton, she was born on April 29, 1872 in Hennepin Country, Minnesota.

In 1887, he and his wife Ingeborg, purchased 100 acres of fine farming land in Brooklyn, Minnesota where they raised nine children-six boys and three girls.

In 1888, the Hennepin County Assessor valued Merrill’s farm at $1,000 for the land and $500 for the structures on it.

John Eidem, Sr. wrote of building a wood structure windmill on his farm back in 1889, so John Jr. would have seen the utility of that device before buying his own farm.

In 1890, Merrill Silas sold 39 acres to William Bragdon and established a new farmstead on the east half.

Only 24 windmills were sold in the first year; in 1892 Aermotor sold 20,000 units.

Then, in May of 1894, John J. Eidem, Jr. and his wife, Electa, bought 39 acres, including the house, barn and granary, for about $80 an acre.

It is unknown exactly when the windmill was installed, but given the wide availability of such agricultural equipment by the late nineteenth century; it is quite possible it was operating in 1900.

As owners of the property, around 1905, Electa and John Eidem Jr. added on to the house on the north end, giving it a stylish Queen Anne appearance.

By 1910, Aermotor had put approximately 400,000 windmills into service.

In 1918 the property known as the East Farm was sold to Archie and Leland Eidem.

Westphal American Legion Chartered in the year 1919 the Westphal Post serves the communities of Robbinsdale and Crystal, Minnesota.

Captain Billy’s Whiz Bang resort has been one of Minnesota’s favorite get aways since 1921.

Eidem Sr. died in 1928 at the age of 86 and was buried in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

Hand-built in 1939 by unemployed stonemasons as part of Lilac Way, this rare and historical beehive fireplace desperately needs to be preserved.

With the war going on at the same time and Billy Fawcett’s publication business in Robbinsdale, it made sense that they would t The Diggers Garden Club The Diggers Garden Club was established in Robbinsdale, Minnesota in 1943.

They were so popular that the community started what is still known today as “Tator Daze”, which was started in 1964.

St Louis Park Historical Society The St Louis Park Historical Society was founded in April 1971 by Marie Hartmann, a lifelong citizen of the Park.

In July, 1976, the house and its 10 acres of land were purchased for $40,000 by the City of Brooklyn Park, using a federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Leland died in 1977 at the age of 80 and is buried with the rest of his family in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

The Eidem Homestead Brooklyn Park Historical Farm opened to the public in September 1979.

In March 1998, the 106 Group Ltd., and Thorbeck Architects Ltd. prepared a Historic Structures Report and made the following determinations.