Originally published April 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 17, 2008 at 2:52 PM
PrintPortraits
Edith Macefield's house | Stands up to the forces of change
written and photographed by Alan Berner "Oh,givemeland,lotsoflandunderstarryskiesabove,don'tfencemein... " When Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher...
PREV
"Oh, give me land, lots of land
under starry skies above, don't fence me in..."
When Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher wrote those lyrics in 1934, Edith Macefield's little Ballard cottage was surrounded by similar homes and, no doubt, plenty of Scandinavians, many of whom were millworkers.
Now, a holdout, the only house on the block is surrounded by new construction, its 86-year-old owner having declined an offer reported to be more than $750,000.
It's been Edith's home for more than a half-century, and soon she'll be engulfed by a concrete New Ballard that will include a grocery store, fitness club and parking garage.
English jurist Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634) was quoted as saying: "For a man's house is his castle, et domus sua cuique tutissimum refugium" (and one's home is the safest refuge for all).
He could have had Edith Macefield in mind.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Print
Digg
Newsvine
Seattle's parks in peril: the choices are to shrink, skimp or pay up
Taste: Muffuletta sandwiches are the Big Easy's best
Plant Life: Seattle's Fisher House offers a place of peace
NEW - 7:00 PM
Wine Adviser: Some good Washington wineries got away
Destinations - A Traveler's Glimpse: Earth Hour: lights out to make a difference
Todd MacCulloch discusses pinball, basketball careers
Rescue of 13-year-old boy at Wallace Falls
Museum officials discuss King Tut exhibit installation
Kayak surfing
Male song birds
Newly hired Seattle schools superintendent Jose Banda
Inmates work with abandoned felines
May Day raw video: Protesters march along Jackson
May Day raw video: Rally at Marion St. and 2nd Ave
Open Houses
|
Find all open houses.
|
nwautos
GM's "Happy Grad" 2012 Super Bowl ad. (General Motors) GM cuts Super Bowl from its ad budget General Motors says it won't run ads during the next Supe...
Post a comment
- Madrona dad killed by a bullet as he drove through Central Area
- Some costs going up Friday as private retailers take over liquor sales
- Innocent bystander shot during Northwest Folklife, 1 arrested
- Seattle police twice face hostile crowds at scenes of violent crime
- Brandon League looks out of his own for Mariners
- Juror alternates' actions have court on red alert
- Vatican in chaos after butler arrested for leaks
- Which Seattle restaurant is on "America's Most Expensive" list? | All You Can Eat
- Meet the biologist who is salmon farming's worst enemy
- Upset neighbors say Kirkland condo project is too big
- Madrona dad killed by stray bullet as he drove through Central Area
527 - M's-Angels game thread, May 26 365
- Some costs going up Friday as private retailers take over liquor sales 331
- Seattle police twice face hostile crowds at scenes of violence crime 190
- A worthwhile conversation about charter schools 172
- M's lineup, May 27, vs. Angels 125
- Man wounded at Folklife fest The gunman fled into the Seattle Center crowd, but an officer gave chase, and police reported making an arrest and recovering a gun. 104
- Shooting victim a dad just like me 79
- Random killing of motorist stirs prayers, reflection 65
- M's-Angels game thread, May 27 60
- Madrona dad killed by a bullet as he drove through Central Area
- Meet the biologist who is salmon farming's worst enemy
- Some costs going up Friday as private retailers take over liquor sales
- A second chance for idle electronics
- Shooting victim a dad just like me | Danny Westneat
- Tacoma's LeMay car museum honors the American automobile
- Wash. fish farm kills stock after virus found
- A lost Seattle climber's family seeks an elusive peace
- Which Seattle restaurant is on "America's Most Expensive" list? | All You Can Eat
- Crew rushes to recover sunken fishing boat in Penn Cove
