If you have been reading this blog or following my Instagram photos for any length of time, you know that we have this incredible old farmhouse that we have been in the process of renovating for the past fifty thousand years. Okay, it’s been a year. I tend to exaggerate… forgive me. It feels like fifty thousand years of renovation, that’s all.
This 100+ year old house was originally located in our town’s downtown historic district. A little over a year ago, it was planned to be demolished to make way for a new parking lot.
Dave and I had an affinity for this quirky old house and just could not bare to see it knocked to the ground. Dave started researching and eventually convinced me that it was possible to move the house. {I still thought he was off his rocker crazy but agreed to his plan to pick up the house and move it… who does that?!}.
City restrictions prohibited moving a house from one spot in the city limits to another. The obvious question here is, “how did they ever come up with such a law? Was there a surplus of families moving houses all around at some point in our town’s history?” No idea. But, lucky for us, the restriction forced us to move the house out to the land Dave had purchased years ago. He originally bought this land not knowing what we would ever do with it but suddenly we had a vision – this would be the place where our little family would retreat from all of the world’s busyness and distractions.
Sooo… in December of 2012, we moved the house.
Apparently, when you move a house, you have to lift it off the ground first. And, remove portions that make it too wide to fit down the street, as in the extra room that was on the side of the house.
Don’t worry, friends. The green cast-iron bathtub finds it’s way back into the house.
There was an abundance of helpers willing to operate the heavy equipment {in the form of two year old boys}.
Oh, did I forget to mention that the roof had to be removed? So, yes. They had to remove the roof. And, put it back on after the move. No big deal.
Prepping the house for the move took about a month. The actual moving day lasted for hours… starting very early in the morning.
It was hilarious watching this house drive down the street.
Dave was on cloud 9.
Oh, right. We had to drive through our neighbor’s field because the house wouldn’t fit down the dirt road. Luckily, the neighbor was as excited as a five-year-old boy just like Dave and loved watching this happen.
This neighbor was not so sure…
Fashion statement. Waking up at 4 am to follow a house down the road for several hours does not lend itself to caring what you have on.
After the initial move, the house had to be placed on the foundation that was prepped earlier and then pieced back together. Next up, the entire inside needed to be gutted and the real work was ready to begin.
I’m excited to share more photos of the renovation with you all and will be doing so over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned… this was certainly a labor of love. We aren’t finished yet, but we are finally getting close!!!
Um….Wow! I cannot believe this! I knew about the farmhouse, but did not know that you MOVED the house. Took the roof OFF and then put it back ON! I mean…..wow! Cannot wait to see more! Suzanne
Oh, did I forget to mention that the roof had to be removed? So, yes. They had to remove the roof. And, put it back on after the move. No big deal.
WOW! Can't wait to see more. They just demolished an old historic house in Tulsa and it was just SAD!! They tried to figure out how to move it, but it couldn't be moved. I wish they would have turned it into a museum or small event center.
i know – isn't it so sad when that happens?!? old houses are so cool and have so many unique little nooks and crannies that I love:)!! and, the history is so neat!
OH MY WORD!!! DON'T MAKE US WAIT TOO LONG!!!! I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!
yes! I'll share soon!!! 🙂
That's insanely awesome!
ha! thanks, Ashley!! it's crazy!!!
So cool! I have a "thing" for old houses. I told someone the other day, "if we ever move back to the states, I am having the Marrs family build us a new "old" house.
Love it 🙂 … absolutely will do!
What a fun and exciting project! Sweet Man and I have talked of doing something like this – cannot wait to see what you do!
Jerusalem! Oh, let me know if you do! it's definitely exciting and crazy… and we call it the "money pit" project… seemed like a GREAT idea at first – "ooh! a free house! let's move it" …hahahha. not so much after all. 🙂
Would you mind emailing me? It looks like we have found some land and now we have to decide how to get a house on it! I have lots of questions! Jerusalemgreer (at) gmail dot com
Holy smokes. You moved a house. Check that off a list somewhere or something…..pretty cool. 🙂
haha! Best comment ever!! love this! 🙂
What a fun post. My affection for you and your family just grew by leaps and bounds b/c you moved and saved a 100 yr old house. 🙂
🙂 Thanks, Tessy!! I can't wait to have a moment to share more "in progress" photos! We're a long way from being ready for "after" pics but soooo much has been done! It's fun to look back on it all!