Huge Gap in Lynden

Our town lost a piece of history yesterday, several businesses burned. They were part of the Delft Square building which was the original Lynden Department Store. So many memories for so many people. The LDS was a department store, grocery store and feed store. The last of its kind, before it became Delft Square where there were many businesses including Freddy's where I waitressed my way through college, Baby Buggy where I bought cute things for my boys, and a candy shop with Dutch mints. The firefighters were still hosing down the Lynden Department Store building today at noon. It will leave a big gap in downtown Lynden.

My memories include grocery shopping with my Mom there, or going to the basement with my Dad for some hardware or shopping for gifts with my Grandma Dykstra. But the best part of LDS was the fabric and sewing section. There my Mom and I picked out patterns and fabric for many special occasions and for school clothes. My sis, Kathi and I loved the old pattern books which were ours for the asking. We would take them home and create and cut our own paperdolls. We cut families, weddings and dolls that were career women with fabulous wardrobes. So much fun. I still like paperdolls.
My thoughts and prayers are with the business owners who lost so much yesterday.