Perhaps Wedgwood’s greatest charm lies in its unexpected origin. This middle-class residential neighborhood in northeast Seattle wasn’t named for a founding father or a geographic feature. Wedgwood owes its name to English bone china. Al Balch, the developer, let his wife choose the name. Wedgwood was her favorite china.
Wedgwood’s history stretches back much further than Balch’s development. Native Americans of the Duwamish tribe hunted here. They traveled through the land. The Wedgwood Rock served as an important landmark. This glacial erratic boulder marked the intersection of trails.
The land that became Wedgwood was once a ginseng farm. Charles E. Thorpe cleared his 40-acre tract. He built a log cabin. By the 1920s, 35th Avenue NE was developing. Thorpe’s land became too urban for him. Seattle University bought the property. They planned a new campus.
Then came the Stock Market Crash. The Great Depression stalled the university’s plans. Albert Balch bought the land. He paid a fraction of what the university had. Major development began during World War II. Defense worker housing was needed. Balch and his partner built 500 homes. These homes formed the core of today’s Wedgwood neighborhood.
Each Cape Cod style house was unique. They originally sold for $5000. Now, they are worth much more. Other parts of Wedgwood have their own stories. Dr. and Mrs. Philip M. Rogers owned 15 acres. They let Boy Scouts use it as a camp.
The large P-Patch Community Garden has an interesting past. It was once a working farm. The Picardo family farmed the land until 1965. Wedgwood has Seattle’s oldest and largest P-Patch. Just south is Dahl Playfield. This was once the Ravenna Swamp. Houses sank into the peat bog in the 1940s. The city bought the land. It became a playfield.
In earlier times north Seattle saw an upswing in commercial activity. Speakeasies became popular. One was the Jolly Roger. It had a tower to watch for police. The Jolly Roger burned in an arson fire in 1989. Today, a convenience store stands on the site. Nearby was the Coon Chicken Inn. This restaurant used racist stereotypes.
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Jacklin opened the first store in Wedgwood in 1922. McVicar’s Hardware Store opened after World War II. They adapted to the needs of the neighborhood. Today, 35th Avenue NE is a shopping district. The Wedgwood Broiler is a 1950s style restaurant.
Wedgwood has a strong sense of community. The Wedgwood Community Council is very active. The Seattle Festival Orchestra rehearses and performs here. Wedgwood also has several schools. Wedgwood Elementary School students successfully lobbied for the Olympic Marmot to become the state mammal.
Wedgwood’s boundaries are not officially defined. However, the neighborhood is known for its community spirit. It has a small-town feel. Wedgwood is a great place to live and visit. This neighborhood continues to evolve. It retains its unique character. Wedgwood remains a desirable place to call home.