The clock is ticking to save the last historic stone cottage in West Seattle

SEATTLE — For the last 90 years, this stone-studded cottage has sat here on Harbor Avenue Southwest. But time is now running out for the historic home.

“It’s nerve-wracking because we’d really like this project to get going,” said Deb Barker, a volunteer with Save the Stone Cottage.

For the last couple of years, Barker and other volunteers have been working to save the West Seattle landmark, which is standing in the way of new development. In December, her group announced it will face the wrecking ball unless the group can move it.

“It just has to be saved. It’s our history. We can’t throw our history away,” said volunteer John Bennett.

The history starts with a woman named Eva Falk, who passed in 1997.

But during the Great Depression, she and her family hand -placed more than 15,000 stones on the home’s unique façade.

“We are thrilled that people are working to save the rock house,” said Falk’s granddaughter Patrice Hollrah.

Interestingly, the owner of the property, Chainqui Development, is working with the group. The company has agreed to allow the home to be moved before construction begins and even donated $20,000 to save it.

So the group just needs to raise the money to move it. So far, it’s raised a little more than half of its $110,000 fundraising goal.

Initially, group members thought they had until the end of January. But they’ve been granted a little extra time, so now it’s looking like they have another month.

To get the community involved, they’re also holding contests called “Finding the Story Stone.”

“This is going to be moved. This is going to be saved. And it’s going to have a new life in West Seattle. We are confident in that,” Barker said.

Barker said they have a plan to rent space on the Port of Seattle Property for two years while they look for a permanent home — possibly at a park or a school.

This Saturday, they will hold another contest called “Walking in Eva’s Shoes,” as Falk and her family gathered all the rocks from the beach near the Alki lighthouse and wheeled them back in a little wagon.

For more information on contests and how to help >> https://savethestonecottage.org/.

Cox Media Group