On Saturday, April 9, 2011, the old rectory which sat in front of the Church of St. Brigid for many years, started down the road to a new location and a new life.
First, the side porches and the sheds in back of the building were removed.
All of the old lumber was saved.
Once the interior of the walls had been exposed, it was evident that much of lumber was re-used.
Then the building was placed on a platform of steel girders.
The girders would form a trailer.
Finally, the building was moved back to get it off the foundation and the foundation was filled in.
And now it was ready to move!
The house started to move at approximately 6:30 PM after a prayer had been said for the house and another for the safety of the crew.
The building is almost off the St. Brigid property
While the Assistant Town Manager does some last-minute worrying and Sgt. Demambro controls traffic
This is the touchy part
But now it is just about all the way off the property
Rolling up Mass Ave toward the statue
And then around the statue
To a spot in front of Cary Library
The dolly on which the girders sit is being turned around and the towing point is being moved to the other end of the girders.
Getting ready to start the Bedford Street part of the journey
It is now getting dark as we pass the Battle Green
Some of the many people who followed the house from St. B's to the new site
This looks a little tight ... and it was
Crews hustle as they wrangle wires on and off the poles. And now it is too dark to take pictures unfortunately ...
These next shots were taken Sunday morning. The rectory is right across from the Hancock-Clarke House
A closer look--the building still has to move backward onto the new foundation
There is still some cleanup. This is one of the light fixtures which had to be temporarily dropped.
