Historic Langley

1970: Langley Drugs built

Circa 1966. Aerial view showing three structures (arrows) on the lot purchased by Ron Lind (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

Pharmacist Ron Lind and his wife Pat purchased Lee's Rexall Drug business on First Street from Leo Lee in May of 1970. They rented the building with an option to buy a lot across the street that Leo owned. Three months later they bought the property next to the Christian Science Church and began construction of a two-story building in July.

Two small buildings and a larger structure that had served as a residence were located on the lot. They demolished the former residence, then serving as Doctor Olson's dental office, and one of the smaller buildings and started construction of a new drugstore in July.

1970. Drug store under construction next to the remaining cottage (Courtesy Ron Lind).

1970. Drug store under construction next to the remaining cottage (Courtesy Ron Lind).

1970. Aerial view of Langley Drugs under construction (Courtesy Delores Cobb).

There was an open deck facing Saratoga Passage, and an open patio on the Southwest corner that was subsequently roofed over.

1970. Cabin on east side of drug store being moved (Courtesy Ron Lind).

The little building adjacent to the east side of the store was removed in September and the lot enclosed by a fence.

1970. New Langley Rexall Drug store almost complete (Courtesy Ron Lind).

Just six months after arriving in Langley, the Linds moved across the street and opened Langley Rexall Drugs on Monday, September 28, 1970.

1970. Entrance to Langley Rexall Drug store (Courtesy Ron Lind).

Circa 1975. Linds Langley Drugs with fenced in yard (Courtesy Jean Knapp).

There were other remodels and improvements In the following years. A cover was constructed over the walkway on the west side of the building. Then, an addition to house a jewelry area was added to the east side by Richard Epstein in 1982.

1982. Preparing for the addition to the East side of Linds (Courtesy Ron Lind).

1982. Framing for the jewelry section (Courtesy Ron Lind).

1982. Jewelry store addition nearing completion (Courtesy Ron Lind).

1982. Jewelry section complete (arrow) (Courtesy Delores Cobb).

The front half of the space devoted to a new "Linds Jewelry" store and the remainder was used for expansion of giftware, health and beauty aids.

Next, the open deck on the north side was enclosed and the building was extended towards First Street with a stairway to the second floor.

In 1988, the family moved out of the apartment above the drug store and a second story designed by Michael Boyd was added over the Jewelry area by Ed Gemkow. Space was rented in the building across the alley for the Hallmark cards until the remodel was complete, then the cards and toys were added to the second floor of the building in 1989.

Circa 1988. Hallmark cards in rented space (Courtesy Ron Lind).

A structure holding a large clock designed by local architect Gordon Wagner was hung at right angles to the building.

1995. Clock on Linds Langley Drugs (Courtesy John Adams).

A second floor was added above the jewelry area, and an elevator shaft was added to the north side in 2001.

Circa 2001. Second story above Jewelry area and elevator housing (Courtesy Ron Lind).

The clock was placed on the front of the elevator housing.

2007. Langley Drugs (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

Linds Langley Drugs closed in 2010.

2013: Whidbey Island Bank

2014. Whidbey Island Bank (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

The Whidbey Island Bank moved from Langley Village on Second Street into the ground floor of the former drugstore in 2013.

2017: Fine Balance Imaging and Feather and Fox

2017. Fine Balance Imaging and Feather and Fox (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

Fine Balance Imaging and Feather and Fox moved into the former Linds Jewelry area on the ground floor in 2017.