Edina Historical Society

Here's your chance to be an archaeologist for a day (or a few days)! Sign up for our Public Archaeology Dig of an early 1900s berry farm, a rare excavation in the metro area. Go to www.edinahistoricalsociety.org for more information and to register!

The Crier
June 1930
Volume 1 Issue 4

Headline highlights
Page 1
District Will Celebrate Fourth With Free Fireworks and Fun

Page 2
Playground Supervision Assured for Summer at C. C. A. Meeting

Page 3
The Sparrow Situation

Page 5
Country Club House Does A Comeback

Page 7
Let There Be Light

All issues of The Crier, the monthly newsletter of the Country Club District, printed between 1930 and 1941, are available for reading at the Edina Historical Society at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 70th St.

Artifact of the month
June 2026

This cross stitch depicts 50th and France in circa the 1970’s.
Stores featured are Clancys, James Hagen, The Mole Hole, a bench with Lunds on it, Tidepool Gallery, Carole and The Children’s General Store.
Do you have any memories of going to these stores?

Se this artifact and more at the Edina Historical Society at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 70th St.

Calling all tiny pioneers and trailblazers (ages 6-10)! Register today for our immersive summer camp at Cahill School and the Minnehaha Grange Hall. For more information, go to www.edinahistoricalsociety.org

Did you know?

Edina was originally part of Richfield.
When this area opened for settlement in 1852 Township 28 was created with borders set on the east at Fort Snelling, south at current day 494, west at current day 169 and north at current day Lake Street.
On the day Minnesota became a state, May 11, 1858, a meeting was held in a schoolhouse at 53rd and Lyndale to organize a municipal government and officially name the Township. Three names were considered, Richfield, Richland (the unofficial name that was used at the time after the mill in the area), and Harmony (which was the name of the local post office. By unanimous vote Richfield was chosen.
In 1886, a vote was held in the northwest part of the area and they chose to leave Richfield and become St. Louis Park. Minneapolis at this time also began annexing sections of the north. This worried the residents in west Richfield, as they didn’t want to be a part of Minneapolis. Also the people lamented about the poor condition of the roads and other issues that they felt was not being adequately addressed by the town supervisors. There had been a divide developing since 1857 when what would become Edina Mill opened. Richfield farmers east of modern Penn Ave. would use Richland, eventually Richfield, Mill while the west would go to Edina Mill. These mills would become sort of de facto meeting places and centers of civic discussion.
A petition was submitted in 1888 for a vote to separate from Richfield from Xerxes Ave west to the current border and create the Village of Edina. Why a village? Because a township had no protection from a city annexing parts of it, whereas a village has to vote and get two thirds of the voters to approve of annexation, thus offering some protection.
The vote was held on December 12, 1888 and was approved. Edina was created a couple weeks later with the delivery of the results to the state and the filing of a charter.
Thus began the journey of Edina, which incorporated as a city in 1974.

Learn more about the history of Edina in our exhibit “Edina: From Farm To City” at the Edina Historical Society at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 70th St.

Image: Map of Richfield 1874 close up of the area that would become Edina in 1888. Courtesy of the Richfield Historical Society.

Happy Memorial Day from the staff and volunteers of the Edina Historical Society at Arneson Acres Park! We wish to thank all those that served and sacrificed for our nation. In observance of this solemn holiday we will be closed today and will resume normal hours tomorrow.