In downtown Sequim sits a home that many visitors have called “perfect,” an “oasis,” and a “secret garden.”

The Sequim Heritage House, a name coined by owner Winnie Greenaway-Palm, is a Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO No. 871749) at 312 N. Second Ave. She’s been renting the home for seven-plus years through the rental service and opened it up for tours to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Nov. 9 for family members, friends and long-time visitors.

“If only these walls could talk,” Greenaway-Palm said. “There have been such wonderful stories here.

“It’s a house that welcomes people.”

She and her late-husband Walt Greenaway purchased the 1924 Dutch Colonial home in 1998 from Donna and Wayman “Toad” Rettig, who had owned it for 10 years at that point.

Greenaway and her current husband Don Palm are the fifth family to have owned the 1924 Dutch Colonial home.

Angus Hay, the second owner of the Sequim Press newspaper, built the home with his wife Vesta for $10,000 from 1922-24. It features five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.

Angus died in 1931 and Vesta continued the paper’s ownership off and on through 1949.

Gordon Hay, Angus and Vesta’s son, came by one time many years ago, Greenaway-Palm said, and reminisced about bringing rocks back to the house from the Dungeness River to build the home’s fireplace near the kitchen.

Through her research, Greenaway-Palm said the Boettchers family (first names unknown) purchased the home in 1949, followed by Mike and Jean Nielsen in 1984 and the Rettigs in 1989.

Prayer and purchase

Greenaway-Palm told open house visitors that 26 years ago, she was surprised to hear a suggestion from God during a walk that she should look into buying the home.

“I never wanted it, never even thought about it, and I had never even seen it because it had this hedge around it,” she said.

“I thought, ‘that’s nice,’ but do I hear what I’m really hearing?”

She told her prayer group about it, and then they started praying and walking by the home, too.

“I was concerned (the owners) thought we were stalking them,” Greenaway-Palm said.

The next week, she felt a nudge to go to the front door and knock, but with no answer she turned to leave, but was greeted by Donna Rettig once she reached the picket fence.

Greenaway-Palm asked Rettig if she’d consider selling and that led to an hour-long conversation with Rettig asking many personal questions.

Greenaway-Palm tried to politely leave, but later realized she was being questioned to see how good of a fit she’d be for the home.

Rettig told her husband, a World War II veteran, about Greenaway-Palm’s credentials and background, and they agreed she would be a great owner. Rettig said to Greenaway-Palm that she too similarly asked the Nielsens about its for sale status.

The day Greenaway-Palm signed for the home was also her birthday, she said.

She and Walter had invested most of their money into the home, she said, but friends and neighbors were supportive, bringing them many things, such as furnishings.

“We even had a woman who brought a crystal bowl,” Greenaway-Palm said. “(The woman) said ‘I think this belongs in this house.’”

Support

Walter Greenaway is known locally for opening and serving as the first Chief Criminal Defense lawyer and administrator for the Clallam and Jefferson Public Defense office. He was also a U.S. Federal Magistrate for the Olympic National Park and three regional military bases.

Walter’s son, Roberts Greenaway of Eatonville, said the look and feel of the house remains “marvelous” after so many years and he fondly remembers visits to help with repairs or for vacation.

Despite Walter’s passing, Roberts said he could still visualize his father sitting in certain rooms like many years ago.

“This was meant to be,” he said of Greenaway-Palm purchasing the house 26 years ago.

“It’s about being the right fit … and Winnie was the right person.”

Deb Arney of Olympia was one of the many guests visiting for the open house, and even stayed the night of the event.

She first rented Sequim Heritage House with college friends in July 2023 after she tragically experienced a house fire a month prior.

“Winnie rescued me,” Arney said.

She was able to stay in the Sequim house for four months with Greenaway-Palm’s help, working with Arney’s insurance company to make it work as repairs were made to her Olympia-area home.

“(Sequim Heritage House) is a cause to celebrate,” Arney said.

100 and hundreds of people

As a retired private practice counselor, Greenaway-Palm and her current husband live on Bell Hill while continuing to oversee rentals of Sequim Heritage House.

“Hundreds of people have enjoyed the house from as far away as Australia and as close as Sequim,” she said.

The home sleeps 12 in its five themed bedrooms, including a nautical room.

There’s an outside gazebo, summertime garden, large kitchen space, and plenty of amenities. A cottage house was recently added, and she’s looking for a long-term single renter for the guest cottage, she said.

“I just want to share the joy of this house with others,” Greenaway-Palm said.

She and many helpers have done a lot of updating to the home while trying to keep things period-appropriate, such as older light fixtures with updated wiring.

Greenaway-Palm said she’s grateful owners didn’t cover up the bones of the home, such as its hardwood floors, or remove its archway entry.

Her favorite spot, and many others’ favorite, is the kitchen.

When living there, Greenaway-Palm liked to turn on the stove by the window, drink a warm beverage and watch the sunrise.

“The yard is wonderful in the summer too,” she said.

For more information on Sequim Heritage house, visit https://t.vrbo.io/rbfVi3nBxOb, or contact Greenaway-Palm by email to winniegreenaway@yahoo.com.

Sequim Gazette photoS by Matthew Nash Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A cottage was added this year at Sequim Heritage House, with owners looking for a long-term renter.

Upstairs in the Sequim Heritage House features a stove and multiple bedrooms.

Photo courtesy Sue Bianchi Nearby maple trees make Sequim Heritage House a must-see year-round.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ This bedroom leads to a children’s reading and play area.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ From this king-size bed in Sequim Heritage House, visitors can look into the yard and city streets.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Don Palm and Winnie Greenaway-Palm stand by a fireplace made with rocks from the Dungeness River during their party celebrating the 100th anniversary of their Sequim Heritage House. On their mantle sits a birthday card for the house and other congratulatory cards.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ A large garden area is available to renters at the Sequim Heritage House.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Treasures and fun discoveries are around most corners and on walls throughout Sequim Heritage House.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ The Nautical Room is one of five bedrooms in Sequim Heritage House.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ This cake commemorates Sequim Heritage House turning 100.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ This reading area leads to one of the bathrooms in Sequim Heritage House.