‘The Stone Cottage will be saved!’ Volunteers plan first mile of historic house’s journey

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(Stone Cottage, circa 1940s)

Two years after we first reported on local preservationists’ hopes of saving the “Stone Cottage,” they’ve reached the first milestone – announcing today that it will be saved and moved before its longtime site is redeveloped:

We are excited to announce the Stone Cottage will be saved! Over 360 donors have contributed more than $66,000, which is enough to save and move the Stone Cottage from its current site and into secure storage a mile south of its 1123 Harbor Ave SW location. The “First Mile” of its journey will occur in the middle of the night once city permits are issued, most likely on a weekend in April. House-moving expert Nickel Bros is waiting for permits before they set the move date.

For Nickel Bros, house moving is an elaborate and inexact process. It involves science, skill and dollies that look like 747 landing gear. Save the Stone Cottage team member Jeff McCord worked for Nickel Bros for many years and narrates the steps that may be involved when the Stone Cottage is moved off its site and travels down Harbor Avenue. Read, see photos and watch videos here:

The First Mile — “An Insider’s Story about How to Move a House”

We are all looking forward to the First Mile of the journey this Spring. The Save the Stone Cottage team will celebrate the First Mile move and continue to raise funds with an online auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. During the First Mile Auction, fans of the Stone Cottage have the opportunity to bid on fun packages that epitomize moving the Stone Cottage, as well as have the ability to support the First Mile move by making a ‘Buy The Mile’ per-foot donation for the haul route. The ‘First Mile’ Auction will occur in advance of the house move, so be sure to check our website for updates.

Save The Stone Cottage LLC will continue to work hard to raise $110,000 in donations to execute the plan to rescue, relocate and restore the Stone Cottage. Donations are being accepted through the website savethestonecottage.org and a GoFundMe charity account. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is serving as the fiscal sponsor of the Save the Stone Cottage Project. We appreciate its steadfast participation.

Save The Stone Cottage launched the crowdfunding campaign in December. The house, covered in stones carted to the site from Alki Beach, is ~90 years old.

RayWest March 21, 2021 (2:46 pm)

Wonderful news and hope this goes off without any problems. It’s quite an undertaking. I so look forward to the day when I can visit it in its permanent location and see the inside.

Flivver March 21, 2021 (4:14 pm)

It was a rocky road but it’ll only be a stones throw away.

Janice March 21, 2021 (10:12 pm)

I’m excited to hear that then stone house will be able to make the first step of its move!! My question (and I’m aware this is unrealistic), is why can’t/won’t the development company who bought the property kick in some cash/assistance to help save the local landmark… If memory serves, they paid 1.2M for the adjacent pink house, as well as pretty penny for the Stone house lot… It would cut into the bottom line of course— but to leave it to the community contribute to a gofundme, and (to my knowledge) not do much or contribute to help save a piece of Seattle history really sickens me.. It shows that developers don’t really care about the city- only the profits they can make! I fear it’s only a matter of time before most of Alki Ave will be comprised new development- but oh well; that’s progress, I suppose…

Stone_Cottage March 22, 2021 (8:29 am)

Hi Janice. The developer, Chainqui, has been extremely helpful and cooperative in the implementation of saving this structure. They have been working tirelessly with us for two years and have donated about $22,000 towards our efforts. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner and we hope our community understands this. We are lucky to have them as new neighbors.

Yma March 22, 2021 (6:06 am)

Alki has been new development for almost 20 yrs. But I agree, that would be a really good thing for the developers.

Meeeee March 22, 2021 (7:05 am)

Janice they did, I believe they donated about $50K.And they’ve given the group trying to save the cottage extra time to findraise.

Christine Vicino March 22, 2021 (11:24 am)

I have been on the lookout for unique engagement rings, and this one would be PERFECT for the owners of the stone cottage. Lol :) It is good to see good in our community. Enjoy your day!

Ann March 22, 2021 (12:57 pm)

Great news! It’s been sad for me as a native born Seattleite to see Alki turned into this strip of high-rise condos. So am thrilled the historical Stone Cottage will be saved!

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