She had no apparent reason to strike up a friendship with a construction chief, but fate had its way. When she received the devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, Barry became her steadfast companion, shuttling her to and from the hospital. Edith found solace in sharing her fears with Barry, and in turn, Barry confided in Edith. He devoted himself to her care.
In 2008, when Edith passed away, she bequeathed her home to Barry, trusting him to preserve it for generations to come. Over the years, the house endured, standing as a testament to their connection. Barry initially contemplated transforming the house into a memorial honoring Edith’s memory, yet the weight of the decision proved too much. Eventually, he decided to put the house up for auction, and it found a new owner in a company called Reach Returns. They had ambitions of converting it into a coffee shop, undertaking renovations and changes, but their vision failed to materialize.
By 2018, the mall’s owners sought to incorporate the house into their complex as a tourist attraction and a spot for pop-up restaurants. The house, along with Edith’s remarkable story, had also inspired the Disney movie “Up.”
At one point, there were plans to donate the house to a charity with intentions of relocating it, as reported by CBSN. The ultimate goal was to transform it into affordable housing, yet these plans remained unrealized
