Trailblazer Seattle Times reporter and one of the “Founding Mothers” of the Bridle Trails Community Club will be remembered fondly for her steadfast involvement & watershed accomplishments in Bridle Trails.

“Jones, a compassionate journalist, an avid horsewoman and a beloved family member, died Dec. 5 in her home, surrounded by friends. She was 103 years old,” writes The Seattle Times in their obituary.

Just 3 years ago, The Seattle Times honored Marjorie on her 100th birthday: ‘Sob sister’ of earlier era at Seattle Times turns 100

But the Bridle Trails community wants to recognize Marjorie for her decades long commitment to growing Bridle Trails Community Club into an advocacy arm between the city, state & Bridle Trails multiple neighborhoods.

Here’s a beautiful tribute to Marjorie Jones by Heidi Benz-Merritt, former BTCC President, newsletter editor, transportation committee chair and long time board member. Heidi has also a long standing involvement with the Bridle Trails Park Foundation.

   “ Marjorie was an invaluable asset and stalwart defender of preserving existing zoning in Bridle Trails:  horse-acre lots on septic systems, the latter ensuring compliance with single-family zoning.  The King County Horse Council and the Bellevue Equestrian overlay (through the Comprehensive Plan) were also championed by Marjorie.  She remained vigilant and involved – even well into her 90s, attending Bridle Trails meetings, making phone calls, etc.  


Bridle Trails Community Club has had a long history of involvement across jurisdictions- with preservation of the equestrian community and the Bridle Trails State Park central issues.  Marjorie worked tirelessly with neighbors in Kirkland, Redmond, and Bellevue on preserving and protecting the neighborhood as a unique and diverse community.   


The original BTCC Founding Mothers – – as I recall:   Lorraine Trosper (Silver Spurs), Grace Allen (next door to Marjorie Jones on south end of 134th), Marjorie Jones, and also Alice Prince (unincorporated King County-now part of Kirkland).  We owe them all a huge thank you for leaving us such an enduring legacy of service, vigilance, and the hard work required to maintain and grow the BTCC.     

   
Unfortunately, it did appear that The Seattle Times interviewed primarily one of Marjorie’s nieces, who wouldn’t have been privy to lots of Marjorie’s neighborhood activities.    Bridle Trails Community Club was a life-long membership involvement for Marjorie – spanning many years since inception.


 When I first met Marjorie, it was in the late 80s, and the issue at the top of the Bridle Trails list was the proposal to add a huge nursing home complex on the Kapela property – essentially an attempt to rezone the equestrian/horsekeeping property running from 134th east to 140th.  I was new to the neighborhood at the time, and there was a subgroup within BTCC that formed, a lawyer hired, and the Kapela proposal was stopped.  (Fast forward 40 years, and a virtually identical proposal – was floated by Kapela family earlier this year, and then dropped –  not supported by the Comprehensive Plan for starters, and would require sewers).   

  Then, there was the Verizon (precursor to Frontier – Ziply) plan to add sewer trunk line up 134th from NE 24th to “service a staff bathroom” for the Verizon switching station on west side of 134th at about 3000 block.  This was opposed by BTCC because it was a commercial use that could be served by a septic system, just like the abutting properties (septic system used ).  The key issue for many of the land use issues is preservation of the septic systems on large lots, and thus the preservation of low-density zoning (sewers required for high-density zoning).


  But Marjorie was also a long-time supporter of the 10 + year successful battle with the City and State, preventing a freeway interchange from being constructed onto SR 520 at 130th ave. NE.  (BTCC was essentially the main opposition to this project, which would have led to widening of 24th, and massive traffic added to our streets. ) 


  Yes, Marjorie was involved in ensuring that the City fulfilled their promise to use bond money to buy the Viewpoint Park property where Viewpoint park sits (instead of letting the owner sell/convert to 400 apartments). 


   But she was also very involved in the opposition to the “event venue” that was planned for what is now the pocket park on the NE corner of 134th /NE 24th street.  This was one of the more “colorful” and interesting issues bird-dogged by BTCC.  Bernie “Barney” Ebsworth, an uber-wealthy Hunts Point resident and art collector, originally bought a residential property on Capitol Hill, to build his modern yoga/church/event? “venue” – masquerading as a “church” (if  you are a church, you can locate in any zoning….)  The Capitol Hill folks took their opposition to Bernie’s fake church with no pastor – to Bernies’ posh waterfront doorstep in Hunts Point.  Reportedly, several hundred demonstrators showing up, shouting “put this in Hunts Point on YOUR property!!”  hah!    Bernie dropped his Capitol Hill plan, then quietly bought the horse stable on 134th/NE 24th.    Still, he advertised it as a church, but no minister or congregation listed on the app.  Well, duh…. BTCC opposed the same project, and now we were seen as  docile-compared to those capitol hill people from Seattle!!   Bernie finally dropped his plan, and sold the property to the City, and I think there may be a way to hitch a horse in this park still…….. Bernie died in 2018, and there is no “church” on his megamansion property in Hunts Point when it sold… (list price was 48 million)”

Marjorie is a tough act to follow. Her long-life secret: “Take each day as it comes. Set a few goals. Be nice to people.” We are inspired by her example.

 

More on  the Ebsworth chapel project in The Seattle Times:  Reflecting on idea of a chapel