A year after this move was initiated, it's finally happened. All through the spring and summer they'd set a date, then somebody would bitch to the town fathers, and it would get canceled. In June the town actually rescinded the permit to do it at all, but I suspect (just between you and me
), they did that knowing they didn't have a leg to stand on, legally. Then after her lawyer challenged it, they could say, 'hey everyone, we have no choice but to let them move the house, so deal with it'. It's hard to be the kings.
My brother emailed...
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The house move happened this weekend. They did the first leg Saturday morning. I was out of town for the day however when I left at 7 am main street was already closed and I understand it made it to the hardware store buy noon.
Sunday morning I woke up at 4:30 and decided I should make coffee. Got the coffee made but no shower as the lights went out at 4:51.
Drove around Rocky Dundee and parked at the town house where Main street was blocked off about 5:10. I walked down Main Street amongst all the utility crews and cops and it was like a parade. People we sitting in the dark with lawn chairs and blankets and everyone had a camera. Award for best party goes to the Blakes who live between the church and academy hall, who had a big cast iron fire pit in the front yard and were cooking bacon and eggs. I made it to about Hatch's Store before the house starting moving and I followed it back.
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I can't believe they pulled that up the mountain with one truck. Of course it was a very big Kenworth tri-axle, but damn.
They must have taken the furniture out first.
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It cleared the bridge at 7:15 and they stopped there while the put Main Street back together. The plan was to drop everything on Chapin so the could do the entire road without stopping.
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At the top of the road there were 10 or so various utility crew just hanging out.
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The house came around the corner by the farmhouse about 11:30 and after some jockeying was clear of the road about noon. Power and cable were back up about 3. They left the house in the middle of the bee lot. Not sure when they are going to place it on the foundation.
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Looking through the pictures, the guy in blue is definitely the HMFIC.
And this is what they left behind, the newer additions that had been attached to the original house.
I'm glad they got it done before it got any colder, as most don't have heat with the power off.
So that's the end of the saga, most people made the best of it, a few enjoyed it, and the ones that wanted to be pissed off
were privileged to do so... ain't America great?
EDIT: I just found out the house weighed 27 tons, and is 24 ft wide.