Moving a House... Literally (More Pics)

[daviscw]

My family inherited land where a house sits on a hill overlooking a river. This house was home to many generations of my family, but it started to deteriorate, so plans were made to burn it down and lease the land to local farmers. My moms cousin went to the courthouse on day to file some paper's after my relatives desk and asked the office if they knew anyone that would be interested in an old house. Coincidentally, a young couple wanted just that, and they even planned to build less than 2 miles down the road. They hired a contractor and the house is being moved this week.

Some may not appreciate this, but its a big deal to me. Not only the fact that I have spent my whole life playing and hunting out of this old house, but the fact that I'm a building sciences major has me interested. My whole life I've planned to build my house on this very spot. I'm away at school right now, but I plan to go home to capture at least some of the moving process.

In these pictures they had already worked about a week. They cut out a huge bank that surrounded the house, took out the chimneys and steps, and slid huge steel I beams under the house in preparation for the trailer.

I might add that this house sits on a curvy dirt road. The mover however, aren't even using the road. The plan is to cut down a path of trees through the woods. Should be interesting!

Very front of house

Left side

Left Back

Right back- If you look close you can see 6 smaller I beams running across the house.

Right front- You can really see the 2 large beams in this picture.

Enjoy!

[frogtog]

Nice looking house, 50 to 75 grand could fix it up nice.

[5bass]

I think it's cool that they can rig up and drive a house down the road with a tractor trailer. A guy did that same thing about a mile from me several years ago but he only moved the house about a 1/4 mile. He bought the house for $1500 bucks and back then I think he paid around 10 grand for the rigging/moving/setting. It was a ranch style home, not a 2 story deal like you got, that could get tricky with trees and powerlines.

I'll admit, it was a little weird seeing a house rolling down the street.  ;D

[flechero]

As a part of my last job, we moved a large number of houses...  it's a lot more common than you might think.

We had to arrange to have the power lines and traffic signals moved as they passed and had police escorts, etc.  Pretty cool to see.

[NewAngler]

I saw this on "dirty jobs one time".  Seems costly.

[mattm]

BOOOOOOORRRRRING........................j/k man thats a neat deal.  I'm suprised your family isn't interested in maintaining the tradition and memories involved in that home.  

[skillet]

 Be glad someone was interested in it. If you've got the skills (or the $$$$), redoing an older home is really gratifying ...

skillet

[Grey Wolf]

Wow , they must have mucho bucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flechero]

Wow , they must have mucho bucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's usually much, much less costly than building a new one.  

[Grey Wolf]

What is the cost to have that particular house moved the two miles ?

[daviscw]

What is the cost to have that particular house moved the two miles ?

I heard the contractor say it would be around 40 grand.

[daviscw]

Supposedly tomorrow is the big move! They jacked it up and put the wheels on today. All thee pictures on this thread are from a camera phone, so sorry about the quality. I should have digital ones tomorrow!

Front.

Great view of the beams underneath.

Path cut out through the woods.

[burleytog]

That looks like the house from Places in the Heart.