A Moving House Adventure
They are everywhere, on back roads, in the cities, countless deserted old homes - many classic historical gems. You discover the right one, prep it, document its entire interior and then use specialists, heavy lift cranes and convoys of trucks to uproot the house and move it down miles of highways to a more desirable location. It's an awesome, dangerous, dramatic task because there's always the lingering, dreaded doubt if this can, in fact, be done. The logistics are mind boggling, the weather's threatening, there's a shortage of time but, more than anything, one thought is paramount - can the little, classic seafarer's cape house that had been chosen withstand the trauma of a drastic move?
The house is nearly lost but persistence pays off. In a spectacular feat the old home is lifted 20 feet into the air and, like a feather in the breeze, it's lowered onto its new roots. It was established that the house was built at least one hundred years ago, but as it gives up its secrets during restoration it reveals it's at least 205 years old. With a flow of unbelievable visuals, the seafarer's cape slowly lets us in on its magical mysteries - was it built in Massachusetts and sailed north on a barge? Was it originally part of a British fort? Was it constructed by Loyalists from America? While historians ponder the ghostly clues, the humble dwelling is brought back to life and becomes a beautiful thing. After 91 days the move and restoration is completed and the once derelict cape has become truly a gem! It's the total recycling of a classic, historical house, a dream home from the past.
The program is host guided, and the approach is that this could take place anywhere. First part of the show deals with discovery, architectural history, preparation and actual move of the house. The second part of the program deals with the "hows and whys" of the demolition and restoration and reveals the rich, mystical history that the old house embodies.