Moving day took on a whole new meaning for one local family on Thursday.
The move was only about the length of a football field, but instead of boxes and packing tape, the Dotta family used 12 hydraulic jacks and four power dollies.
Very steady and slowly, the 140 ton brick house in Washington Twp., Northampton Co., was moved. Inch by inch, it was being relocated about 350 feet away. It may have been a small distance, but it had big meaning for a local family.
"The house has been in our family for 53 years," said Anita Dotta, part owner of Dotta Chrysler Jeep.
The dealership is growing, but her childhood home was in the way. The family had a choice; tear it down or pack it up.
"We didn't want to get rid of the house for sentimental reasons," explained Dotta, whose parents built the two story home, and she and her four siblings grew up there.
So it was time to get moving. For hours Thursday, Wolfe House and Building Movers guided the tedious transport.
"This job is very easy compared to what we usually do," said foreman Nevin Buckingham.
With jacks and remote-controlled hydraulic dollies, the 11-room home stayed level during the entire ride.
"That way there's no cracks or no damage done to the house when we move it," said Buckingham.
A team was on hand to help out, and dozens of folks came to watch the haul. It was a sight neighbors had to see to believe. Ken Abruzzese and his kids were some of them.
"They were all excited, they thought they were gonna move it in five minutes," he laughed. "Now they're bored because they're like it's not even moving."
For most people, it was a chance to see something out of the ordinary, but for the Dotta's it was moving childhood memories to make room for the future.
"Pretty exciting for our family," smiled Dotta. "It's a piece of history moving."
There are still about two months worth of work left to do before the house is livable. The Dotta's aren't sure if they'll rent it or sell it, they said they're just glad they kept it.
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