Holmquist building razed

Almost 100 years ago you could find six potato warehouses in Lindstrom. Last week the only remaining one, the red-stained structure on First Avenue, near the Maple Street intersection was torn down, as the city-initiated a long planned project to redevelop the blighted site. The empty lot will be placed on the market and the city will use it for parking in the interim. Potatoes were a big industry in this region. Shafer was next in line as a spud mecca with five warehouses holding potato harvests. Center City was home to two warehouses and a potato starch factory. Chisago City had two warehouses; and according to historical reference books, the Chisago City Community Center once was used to store potatoes and has been moved to its present location on Hwy 8. The rail line ran close to or right alongside many of these sites. Reports are that the area’s potato crop grew scabby and yields dropped-off so farmers moved on to alternative crops. In recent years the warehouse in Lindstrom had been used as a “mini-mall” and had been home to small shops like a sports memorabelia dealer and non-profits had also used the space off and on. The Holmquist name had been prominently painted on its north side when the chiropractor of the same name moved in.