Wedgwood in Seattle History

The Brancato newlyweds in 1955.

In 1955 newlyweds Frank and Dorothy Brancato moved to the Wedgwood neighborhood in northeast Seattle, beginning decades of service in local schools, church and community work. In the 1980s when the Brancato children were grown and Frank was retired from his employment, the couple turned their attention to Wedgwood’s development issues.  Frank and Dorothy’s organizing efforts strengthened the ability of the community to have input with city government.

In the 1950s and 1960s Wedgwood had a community club but interest and involvement waned until the club stopped meeting in the early 1970s. Neighborhood activism may have declined because of the Boeing Bust of the 1970s when there was a regional economic slump due to massive lay-offs at Boeing.

Then, too, by the 1970s the Wedgwood neighborhood was mostly filled in with houses and the business district seemed complete, so there were fewer development issues to attract attention.  Another possible reason for the death of the community club was the long-running, rancorous fight over a development called Shearwater.

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