The unspoken hero in the Edith Macefield story appears to be Barry Martin, the senior superintendent for Ledcor Construction, which is building the development around Edith’s home. Martin and Macefield struck up a friendship over the last year, and he “made sure she had food, ran to get groceries for her, picked up prescriptions, cooked her dinner,” reports the PI. In her last days battling pancreatic cancer, he made sure she was comfortable. And here’s the shocker: one of Ledcor’s managers told Times columnist Danny Westneat that he believes Edith may have left her property to Martin. It’s unclear if Edith left a will, and when asked, Martin said he doesn’t want to talk about it. But he did say that Edith made it clear she did not want a funeral or even flowers, but people can donate if they like to the Humane Society.
Meanwhile, Ledcor Construction said it designed the structure to absorb the property if it became available. “Spots have been left so steel beams could be inserted into the concrete to complete the upper floor, assuming Edith’s home is sold and torn down,” explains Westneat in his column.
Yesterday: Edith Macefield passes away at 86 years old
20 responses so far ↓
1 Gavino // Jun 18, 2008 at 8:24 am
Does anyone know of any effort to preserve the house - either at its current location or moving it to somewhere else in Ballard? Thank you!
2 Jim // Jun 18, 2008 at 8:37 am
Why would you want to preserve it?
3 biff // Jun 18, 2008 at 9:05 am
Jim Jim Jim. Remember Ballard is where the Denny’s is a cultural wonder to be saved for future generations.
4 m // Jun 18, 2008 at 9:15 am
In the midst of progress and/or the fight against it please remember that kindness for another won out. Thank you Barry Martin. You were a good neighbor.
5 Suthii // Jun 18, 2008 at 9:32 am
“Did Edith leave her property to construction chief?”
I guess the last laugh is on Edith.
6 Jeri // Jun 18, 2008 at 10:29 am
Why would the last laugh be on Edith? I’m sure she knew what she was doing.
7 elswinger // Jun 18, 2008 at 11:23 am
My friends had a house on that block and it was torn down and had construction on it after the check cleared. I think it would be cool to preserve the house as a restaurant of coffee shop in memorium of Edith (they could still build over the place).
8 Kara // Jun 18, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I really hope they do something in her honor otherwise Old Ballard really is dead…its being covered over by pavement.
9 gooner // Jun 18, 2008 at 12:48 pm
how long before the new ballard becomes the old ballard
10 Suthii // Jun 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm
“Why would the last laugh be on Edith?”
You don’t see the irony in her willing the house to one of the people responsible for building the new project? This wasn’t about ‘fighting the man’ or fighting developers, this was about an old lady who simply didn’t want to move. More power to her now she’s giving her home to one of the people working on that project.
“I really hope they do something in her honor otherwise Old Ballard really is dead”
Well, if the builders are smart, they’ll co-opt the Ballard nativists and keep the house, paint the walls with a nice mural showing Old Ballard (throw a few drunk fishermen and tattooed ladies in the mural), refurbish her house and turn it into a cool cafe with wifi and $4 lattes.
“its being covered over by pavement.”
How is building something on the vacant lots that surrounded Edith’s home the same as covering them with ‘pavement’ exactly?
11 Joel // Jun 18, 2008 at 3:41 pm
>>Well, if the builders are smart, they’ll co-opt the Ballard nativists…<<
Stupid Suthii comments like this are really starting to chap my ass. What a jerk. I really liked this blog when it first came along, and I tried to take it in stride, but this moron has disparaged me and my “nativist” heritage one too many times. Even if I agree with some of his/her pragmatism, I’m only going to stand to be stereotyped so much.
12 Ballardeer // Jun 18, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Even if they don’t keep the actual building, what about making it a green space with a memorial to Edith Macefield and a picture of her house?
13 Kara // Jun 18, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Whatever….I just want to find a way to honor her without slapping some pavement down and putting in another Starbucks!
14 Suthii // Jun 18, 2008 at 5:11 pm
“I just want to find a way to honor her without slapping some pavement down and putting in another Starbucks!”
I agree, Kara, a Cafe Vivace or another Verite would be much better. Starbucks is far too hoi polloi.
Can they build nice pavement in front so we don’t trip on the cracks to get our caffeine before hitting Trader Joes??
15 KatieK // Jun 18, 2008 at 8:12 pm
“In the midst of progress and/or the fight against it please remember that kindness for another won out. Thank you Barry Martin. You were a good neighbor.”
m, I agree. That’s quite charming and positive.
16 AkGru // Jun 18, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Any concern that Edith had slipped at all mentally and that this construction guy was milking a sad situation all with the sinister plan of gaining the property?
We did learn that Suthii sometimes has a tough time with cracks in this recent exchange. How interesting…
17 m // Jun 20, 2008 at 9:22 am
I find it disturbing that some jump immediately to worst case scenario, sinister plans and distrust. More often than not, people are well-intended.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
18 Kara // Jun 21, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Sure you completely agree as always….without any last words in a sarcastic manner.
19 jules // Jun 30, 2008 at 12:23 pm
suthii:
wish you would fall in a crack!
20 Steve // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Her blue Chevy Celebrity was just as much a staple on that street than her house. We should bolt it to the pavement.
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