A Homeowner Who Wouldn't Sell, Part II

A Stubborn Octogenarian Refused A Developer's Offer ... But That Wasn't The End Of Her Story

(CBS)  One of Steve Hartman's more memorable reports was about a woman who stubbornly refused to sell her house, even as a giant building went up all around her. The story's taken another twist, as Steve found out in tonight's "Assignment America":

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At the bottom of a 5-story chasm sits a story-and-a-half … a story about a little old lady who stood up to a big new development. You've probably seen similar stories, but I promise, you've never seen one that ends quite like this.

It started, for me at least, about a year-and-a-half ago when the walls were just beginning to rise around the home of 86-year-old Edith Macefield. I'd flown to Seattle to ask her why she turned down a million-dollar offer from developers.

For those of you don't remember that interview …

"Go away!"

… That's probably because it never happened.

Even after I sent her flowers and offered to help with the chores …

"Do you want some help, Edith?" Hartman asked.

"No."

Macefield proved to be as unwelcoming to me as she was to change in general.

But apparently there was another side to Edith - a sweet side. I found a picture of her hanging on the refrigerator door of Barry Martin, the construction project manager - the man basically in charge of walling her in.

"You really ended up enjoying her company?" Hartman asked.

"Oh, yeah," Martin said. "We got along and we thought a lot the same ways."

When the building project began three years ago, Barry started checking in on Edith - just as a courtesy. Then one day she asked him if he wouldn't mind taking her to the beauty parlor; Barry obliged.

Later it was the doctor's office - and pretty soon he was cooking her three meals a day and visiting her on weekends.

That explains why she re-gifted my flowers to him.

Barry was the closest thing to family Edith had - a responsibility he took seriously, especially after Edith was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

"She didn't want to be put into a nursing home," Martin said. "She wanted to stay there and die in her house where her mother died. And I kind of realized that if I didn't do it, she wasn't going to be able to do that."

So, even though he has a family of his own, Barry (left) became Edith's primary caregiver. Thanks to him, she was able to stay in her house all the way to the end.

"It's funny, every time I come in here I expect to look over there and see her," he said.

Her house is now his house - Edith left it to him.

Today it's not worth a fraction of what it was. But that's OK.

"I walk around there and look at things and think about her," Martin said.

Seems the owner still isn't ready to sell.

[mssinnia]

We need more people like Barry. Willing to look deeper than some people's rough exterior and lend a helping hand.

[CUBANOGM]

Great story and great of Barry to take care of the lady to the end.The house should stand always and stand for human fortitude and perseverance even in front of modern inpersonal advances.What is a $1M forth to an old person with cancer.Her house was worth to her Paradise.Thanks for the story.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

Thanks for the heartfelt posts, you two.....The remaining posts were put there by a few blockheads that simply want to stir things up....
Posted by willow0313 at 6:19 AM : Mar 21, 2009
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I have long been a fan of cbsnews.com. I don't post often here on the comment boards, but this story was so nice and touching. I've learned to ignore the nasty posts. I believe that some people have a lot of hate inside and this place is anonymous and easy to hide behind. I'm glad I commented on this story however; it's so heartwarming and a true affirmation of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Let's hope for more stories like this in these uncertain times! It feels good to say something nice. People may think they are feeling satisfaction when they say something nasty but I believe it builds up inside of us and it so very unhealthy.

Anyway, have a wonderful weekend if you come back to these parts to read this and I'll look for you on the comment board.

[CBSTV]

This is a very well told, well produced report. Others ought to study it to learn the art of storytelling.

[ky-man]

I think this is one of the best endings for a news story that I have ever heard..Thank God for people like Barry ..God answerd a prayer using him.

[mlissab]

This has to be one of the sweetest things I have read in a long time. It's nice to see a touch of consideration for others in a world that seems to be all about looking out for number one.

[bc0001]

nice developer, eh.... to wall someone in because they wouldn't surrender their home.

[creeper00]

Heartwarming. Thank you for the update, Steve Hartman.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

Barry, I wish there were more people like you. I hope you realize what a wonderful thing you did. The dignity that Ms. Macefield retained and the care and compassion you showed her is something I think all of us would love to find inside us. What a wonderful story. I'm so glad to have read it.

[liselle3]

What a lovely story. Shows how far compassion, love and consideration of the feelings of others can really impact our lives. Beautiful story.