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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 Newspaper Article Re: Moving George Cain HouseROLLING ALONG MOLLY BARTELS staff photogr Florida Power and Light line specialist Ron Christie shines light on a co-worker who was raising power lines so the George Cain House could p under them on Tuesday. The house was being moved from U.S. 1 to its new home in Riverview Park in Sebastian, where it may become a museu Historic home takes to the road By Tony Judnich staff writer SEBASTIAN — Its path was lit by flashing lights from police cars and utility trucks, which occasionally hoisted men in work buckets to get electrical lines cleared for its metal roof coming their way. After being lifted by hydraulic jacks and placed on a metal framework with wheels, the two -story -tall piece of city his- tory known as the George Cain House went for an escorted cruise on a brisk late Tuesday night that ended at Riverview Park. The haul began about 11 p.m. Tuesday and ended two hours later, with little traf- fic to deal with in between. Workers from Hall's House Moving Inc., of Palm City, used a 2.5 -ton, six -wheeled truck to pull the house a mile from its original spot at 1531 U.S.1 to an area of the park across In- dian River Drive from the twin city docks. City officials would like to get grants to renovate the Old Florida Cracker -style house and possibly make it a museum "It's not something you see every day, that's for sure." Jerry Turenne Sebastian resident showcasing Sebastian's fishing heritage or nearby Pelican Island. George Cain, who first lived in the house, worked for Florida East Coast Railway LLC. Sandy Waltermire, who braved 40 -degree temperatures along with a hand- ful of other folks witnessing the building relocation, lived in the house off and on for 45 years. "This is amazing," the 61 -year-old city resident said of the move. "I raised my four children there. There are lots of mem- ories in that house." Waltermire said she didn't mind the blustery weather. "I'm so excited, I couldn't be cold," she said, knowing the house will be preserved. "This is just so awesome." Earlier this year, Waltermire sold th property at 1531 U.S.1 to a local busine; man who' plans to use the land for new businesses. Rather than tear the house down, he allowed the city to take it for free. During the relocation, spectators watched as the about 25 -foot -wide houSE rolled along three roads at about 5.10 m taking up most of the roadway and squ< ing by some mailboxes and street signs. The house was pulled south on U.S. east on Jefferson Street, then south on I dian River Drive. City officials said pro erty owners along the route were notifi ahead of time about the brief utility out ages that occurred when some wires ha to be temporarily disconnected. "It's not something you see every da that's for sure," 69 -year-old city residen Jerry Turenne said about the move. Hi: 67 -year-old wife, Pat Turenne, joined bi See HOUSE, 64 :HOUSE - FROM B1 in watching the relocation. The house is more than 90 years old.- Several spectators said. they were impressed it only, sustained min i mal dam- age -from the recent hurri- canes. Dead, brown vines dangled" from, the : house's front porch; but ' the,' oply _ signs, of hurricane= : havoc Were a - broken window_ and some roof damage. 'This is ,a real' stout build- ing," said the moving compa- ny's owner, ,Rodney Hall. "It's made out, ot that. Dade County pine,-,"'. Sebastian resident Jayne Dyke, 35, followed the mov- ing house' and its, escorting vehicles south on Indian River Drive.. ' in, . her `heated van. 'It's fabulous," she said of the house on the go. Joining here Frere, her par- ents, and , her. husband, 40 -year-old -Rodney, who said he - grew up with Wal- termire's son, Dickie. "Some people thought: they couldn't move that horse:, but look at itgo," Rodney Dyke said., Palm Bay resident Sandy ' Allen Smith said her. mother, Emma - Lucille Hall Allen, was born in the ..house in 1910. Smith, .59, L wasn't; able to see the house get moved but she said, she is happy. city officials will preserve it. "I think it's wonderful, and I can hardly wait until they. open it "she s4. Smith likes, house possibly serving :,as- a museum .about the , city's - early fishing industry,- She said her grandfather, Wil- liam Fred Hall, lived in the house. with her grandmother,. Alice. Lucille Hall, and: flshed . at an Indian River : I_aa_ von fishing camp -near- -the %house's original spot. The city - is paying about $34,0{X}.: to Hall's House :Mov- ng fox - the relocation work. 7'he company will. use $10,440 , of that to .pay for the tonlao�- rary utility line relocations, said city Public Works Direc- tor Terry' Hill.. He said the house would soon be moved from the metal `.framework Ontoas concrete ~b, ck�`� �ounda- tion at the parr., tonyjudnich@scripps.com TCPahn: Local News TCPalm To print this page, select File then Print from your browser URL: http://www.tcpaim.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,1651,TCP_16736_3143657,00.html Historic house to be moved By staff report August 28, 2004 Page 1 of 1 SEBASTIAN — The historic George Cain House is scheduled to go for a ride at midnight on Sept. 15. That's when city officials plan to start moving the two-story wooden house from 1531 U.S. 1 to the south part of Riverview Park, across from The Sportsman's Lodge, 412 Indian River Drive. There isn't expected to be much traffic on the roads in the early morning hours of Sept. 16, according to Public Works Director Terry Hill. Workers from Rodney Hall House Moving Inc., of Palm City, plan to haul the Advertisement house down U.S. 1 to Jefferson Street, then to Indian River Drive. Hill said the move might take two hours. The house is believed to be more than 90 years old. City officials hope to get $100,000 in historic preservation grants to renovate it and open it to the public, possibly as a museum or visitor's center. They've budgeted $34,000 in city money for preparation work, the move itself and a new building foundation. George Cain lived in the house in the early 1900s and worked as a tie inspector for the Florida East Coast Railway Co. Local businessman Dave Brown, who recently bought the property the house stands nn. is lettina the city have the house. He plans to build commercial businesses on the land. Subscribe to The News, Tribune or Press Journal: PRE -PAY and Receive a FREE GIFT Copyright 2004, Scripps Treasure Coast Publishing Co. m Click for permisssion. to reprint Copyright 2004, TCPalm. All Rights Reserved. http://www.tcpahn.com/tcp/cda/article_print/0,1983,TCP_16736_3143657_ARTIC... 8/30/2004 Sunday, March SEBASTIAN -RIVER AREA This old house may take roadtrip uggestions to move the Id "snowshoe house" iclude Sebastian lunicipal Airport, where could possibly be used the base of an old luntty store, or 3bastian Elementary, sere it could be used an ecoscience boratory. By Tony Judnich staff writer This old house Some residents wonder why the house has never been painted. There are at least a couple Of reasons, Waltermire said. She said her father had thought a paint job would in- crease taxes on the home. And, a paint job itself would be costly, she said. The house is only a few feet from southbound U.S. 1. That's because a project to expand U.S. 1 in 1957 used 30 feet of land in front of the house, Waltermire said. The house used to have a second -story porch. Wal. termire said the upper porch was removed when the road project forced her father to reconfigure the house. Wr. (Dave) Brown is not interested in the house and is giving me time to move. He's a nice guy and very easy to deal with. I thank I'llfind a place to my liking.", Sandra Walternire Former owner of histlic home And, "There was a nice Sloping lawn, big trees aid a cool breeze always coming through," Waltermire said. Back then,"the house didn't stick out there (close to the road) like a sore thumb." Flame vine that clings to the south side of house has been there as long as Wal- termire can remember. "When it bloomed it was beautiful," she said. But over the years, with the fu.,nr-s from the cars, it's not as r -ice as it used to be." The house has four bed- rooms upstairs. While Wal- termire was growing up, it had no insulation, but kero- sene heaters were used to try to keep it warm during the winters. insulation and is warmed by gas heat. Window air- conditioning units help cool it in the summer. As for the snowshoes? "They were from some neighbors who moved here from Maine" and, for awhile, lived across the road when she was growing up, Wal- termire said. The house she is leaving "is part of our history, and if Sebastian wants to preserve their history, this is one of them," she said. Now, the house has some-tonyjudnich@scrfpps.com Tender & Juicy Cultivated Black Mussels MUSSEL r ,. v SEBASTIAN — Sandra Waltermire is happy she has time to move out of the his- toric, two-story house at 1531 U.S. 1 that she has lived in for almost half a century. "I was here when U.S. 1 was just a single -lane road," Waltermire said . recently. "I had, a good childhood here, and my four kids grew up here. It's kind of near and - dear -to me." The house is believed to be more than 90 years old. Wal- termire, 60, has lived in it for the past 27 years and a total of 45. Local businessman Dave Brown recently bought the house and the. land it's on from Waltermire and has asked�her to move by June 15 so he can, proceed with plans to commercially develop the property, ' according to city information. "Mr. Brown . is not inter- ested in the house and is giv- ing me time to move, Wal- termire said recently. "He's a nice guy and very easy to deal with. I think I'll find a place to my liking." Reached . on Friday, Wal- termire declined to comment on why she sold the house. City Councilwoman Lisanne Monier, who has talked with Waltermire about - possible ways of preserving the house, said Waltermire told her it was getting to be too much-�-- The new owner Brown, a principal owner of KH Plaza, just south of the house, could not be reached for comment. Brown` has "amicably .expressed interest in working with the city" to relocate the house, instead of demolishing it, according to City Manager Terrence Moore. City officials and some area residents hope to pre- serve the house because it re- flects the city's history as an Old Florida fishing village. The house is known as the "snowshoe house" because it has a pair of snowshoes on the wall of its 4 front porch, and , as the' George Cain House, after the man who worked for the Florida East Coast Railroad and lived in the house in the early 1900s. Monier recently got an es- timate from a mover who said relocating the house wbuldcost about $23,000: . Suggestions heard by city -6 iicials on where to move it include- Sebastian Municipal Airport, where it could possi- bly be used as the base of an old country store, or Sebas- tian Elementary, where it could be used as an I ecosci- ence laboratory. Waltermire said the house "is still very sound under- neath," so it could handle be. ing moved. "It would tickle me to death to see it moved. and nraRpruAfl " eitn COM