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March of the Victorians
 
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Harvard moved three Victorian houses today to make room for a new 250,000SF building for the Law School.

 

We walked over to Mass Ave at around 7:30 this morning  and the largest of the three, Ukranian House, was already in its new location; the move had started around 4:45am.

 

We got to see Baker House and the much smaller carriage house roll down the road.

 

Left and below: Baker House turning onto Mass Ave.

 
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The whole thing was really interesting. The move is done be remote control, and the houses are on hydraulics so the can be re-leveled as they go.

Above and at right, Baker house get some adjustments as it traverses the sidewalk at its new lot.

 
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Here comes the Carriage House!

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Baker House gets turned 90 degrees and pushed into place facing Mellen St (as it will once it's moved onto its foundation).

 

That's Ukranian House to the left of Baker, below.

 
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Neighbors had all been receiving memos for a while, but it had also been on the news the night before, so there were lots of spectators for the early-morning move.
 
While Baker House was being pivoted and pushed into position, the carriage house had sat on Mass Ave. Above right, its motor gets started up again for the trip over the sidewalk.
 
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All in Place!
COMMENTS
GeorgePL said at 11:28 p.m. on Jun 23, 2007:
That must have been something to see! Nice catch.
Saulblum said at 11:30 p.m. on Jun 23, 2007:
I'm glad you got to see it ... I was still sleeping at 7:30!
Lataylor said at 6:17 a.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
How incredibly strange. Surreal even. Thanks for capturing and posting as I really wanted to see this but couldn't make it!
Bonnie_B said at 7:04 a.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
thanks folks! Saul -- I would have been sleeping too but I had a houseguest get in from the airport @ 6:45... we were back out the door by 7:15! :-)
Dclark said at 9:57 a.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Thanks for sharing Bonnie; I would have liked to have been there. I have to say a Thanks to Harvard for saving these pieces of history, too many time progress tears down houses like these with out a thought.
Rahela said at 10:00 a.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Wow. Quite a move.
Lisawang said at 6:45 p.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Bonnie, thanks for documenting Harvard's relocation of the historic buildings! Very cool!
MindyF. said at 6:56 p.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Wow, that's pretty amazing. Must have been fun to watch!
Engelgrafik said at 5:24 p.m. on Jul 5, 2007:
wild. I once saw a pre-fab house get demolished across a slick and rainy south Georgia intersection. They hadn't counted on the uphill turn and the house slid right off the trailer. It looked like a scene from after Mt. St. Helens... just wood planks everywhere, like Mikado sticks. Must have sucked to be that driver... and home owner.
Banafsheh said at 7:16 p.m. on Aug 26, 2007:
how cool!
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