Why does a small, tired home stand proudly between high rises in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle? Why do people tie balloons to the fence? I had to learn the story of this home.
Edith Macefield’s Perseverance
Edith had purchased this 1,050 square foot, two bedroom home for her mother in 1952. They had affectionately referred to it as “Whitewood Cottage.” Edith moved in with her mother in 1966. Edith Macefield lived there until her death from pancreatic cancer on June 15, 2008. She was 86 years young.
1438 N.W. 46th Street
Photo Credit: Jessica Bermudez
The Offer
When Trader Joe’s grocery store and LA Fitness were slated to be built on Ballard Block in 2006, developers had reportedly offered Edith $1 million for her home. She refused. Cement walls were built surrounding the property’s perimeter and construction commenced.
In October of 2007 Edith told Kathy Mulady, a Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter, “I don’t want to move. I don’t need the money. Money doesn’t mean anything.”
Edith stated that she was “perfectly happy here” to a Seattle Times journalist. “I went through WWII. The noise doesn’t bother me. They’ll get it done someday.”
World War II
Edith had lived in England in the 1930’s. Edith spoke seven languages. She had shared with trusted friends that she’d been a spy for England and had met Adolf Hitler. Close friends confirmed that Edith had raised 27 war orphans. Years later she had a son. He was with her for 13 years when he sadly contracted meningitis and died. She never spoke about her marriages.
A Special Friendship
The construction superintendent, Barry Martin, and Edith developed a friendship. He had helped her with meals and other tasks. Barry even took her to the doctor and picked up prescriptions for her. In Edith’s will Barry Martin was named owner Whitewood Cottage. In 2009 Barry sold the property for $310,000. These funds were used to finance his children’s college education.
Disney’s “Up!” Promotion
Photo Credit: Inhabit Green Design Innovation Architecture
In 2009 Disney used Macefield’s home as a promotion for the animated movie, “Up!” Dozens of balloons were tied to the top of the house. Edith’s well-known determination had mirrored the movies’ manifest. In the film, Carl Fredricksen had refused to sell his home. He and the neighbor boy tied balloons to the house and lofted their way to adventures in South America.
Edith’s Pie Shop
An auction was held in March of 2015, but there were no buyers due to the $300,000 liens. Later that year the liens were removed and a woman wanted to purchase the property. She planned to open a bakery and coffee shop calling it, “Edith’s Pies,” but the zoning wouldn’t allow a shop. So the property went into foreclosure.
Fundraising Effort
Lisa Byers, an executive from OPAL Community Land and Trust, tried an online fund raising campaign to relocate and renovate the house. Unfortunately, only $18,649 of the needed $205,000 was donated. The Seattle Times reported that Byers had said, “We’re sorry that it can’t be.”
Macefield Music Festival
From 2013 – 2017 an eclectic music festival had been organized honoring Edith Macefield. It had been known that Edith’s cousin, Benny Goodman, had given her a clarinet which she loved to play. She also enjoyed opera. Macefield Music Festival featured new musical groups as well as established artists. The organizers used Macefield’s house as a symbol for their annual weekend celebration.
In 2017 the Macefield Music Festival Facebook page posted that “Macefield Presents” will start planning events throughout the year at different Ballard neighborhood venues. Songkick.com a global company has assumed responsibility for organizing concerts. There haven’t been any Macefield Festivals planned for a few years now. But hopefully it will regain popularity.
No Plans To Demolish
Craig Ramey, the managing director of Regency Centers, said there were no plans to demolish the home as of April 2018. It still stands today in a nook between the Ballard buildings. The boarded up house looks lonely. People still leave balloons tied to the chain link fence.
I encourage you to “look behind the curtain of life” and find the deeper story about the world around us. Everyone has a tale to tell.
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Resources:
KIRO 7 Seattle Live Local In-Depth
