"I have wonderful memories of the house before they built Holly Park," Rohan says. "It was kind of set up there alone, majestically up there in its day. It was a farmhouse with a beautiful big veranda wrapped around the front of it. Orchards and a vegetable garden were in the backyard. There were lots of formal dinners and everything was white linen."

Wartime efforts changed the neighborhood and soldier encampments with anti-aircraft weapons were set-up across the street to help build a defense for Boeing.

The southeast view of one of the gardens.

"My brother and I have fond memories of going across the street to talk to the  soldiers,"  Rohan says with a smile. "I had long red hair and they used to tease me all the time. One day I was running around and they were chasing me. Well I ran right in front of a horseshoe game and got hit in the head! It knocked me out as cold as a clam and the soldiers carried me up back home."

World War II efforts expanded, requiring Boeing to hire people from across the country. In turn, the City needed land to build housing for the defense workers in the neighborhood and Lee's family had to leave their home.
 

"It was devastating," Rohan recalls. "Nobody could imagine such a thing. In those days, they didn't give you much money to move out of your home. The family did everything they could to stay there but there was nothing they could do. Everyone was extraordinarily upset."  

The Lees eventually found a new home in Seward Park and although the Lee property was used for defense worker housing, the house itself remained intact as a community hall. 

In the 1950s, Seattle Housing Authority took over Holly Park to provide low-income housing and the old family building was officially named Lee House.

The edge of Lee House before the move

Although it has gone through numerous renovations and changes to accommodate the community’s meeting space needs, hints of its original character remain. “It had beautiful hardwood floors that are still underneath there,” says Rohan. “It was such an eloquent, lovely home at one time. It had a double staircase that came not only from the front staircase in the front hall, but the back kitchen area. The original railings and banisters are still there too.” 

Now that redevelopment work is underway around Lee House, NewHolly Development Project coordinator Carter Hart is leading efforts to both preserve and restore Lee House as much as possible to its original condition. 

“Ever since I saw the pictures of what it originally looked like, I felt it had a great deal of dignity and historic presence,” says Hart. “It has served the community in a couple of different roles and it would not be appropriate to leave it in the condition it’s in now when we’re building a new community around it.” 

The house’s original character has deteriorated over time and the restoration needs include landscaping, a roof, new plumbing and wiring, as well as windows and siding. Although the Seattle Housing Authority has approached historical societies and other potential community partners to aid in the Lee House’s plight, the financial commitment to its restoration is greater than their capacity.

For now, the Lee House will remain

Lee House is placed on stilts and pieces are slowly pulled out to lower it evenly on a set of dollies.