Home Improvement Onceler

Over the last couple of months, people have been asking me, "what'll happen to the blog if you sell the Devil Queen?"

This question always makes me think of a scene in Pulp Fiction where Vincent asks Jules what he'll do once he quits.

Jules: I'll just walk the earth.
Vincent: What'cha mean walk the earth?
Jules: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu."

I love the idea of this. However, the truth is probably something closer to the Lorax.


Over the last couple of years, I've apparently become a go-to person for information on house moving and cautionary tales of woe. If nothing else, drop a coin in the bucket and see what kind of story gets whispered down the tube to you.

Really though, the posts may not be as frequent, but there is still plenty of material to work with relating to the Devil Queen in particular (a prequel of sorts) and old homes in general.

Housemovers of the World, United in Woe

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to meet a couple of old home enthusiast. One of them owned four or five old homes, one of which he'd moved. The house in question was his grandparents' old home. His thoughts on home moving?

"Unless it was a really, really special house, I wouldn't do it again. It's just a major pain."
He actually moved this house quite a bit further than we had moved the Devil Queen. As such, they had to fully dismantle the house, move it, and then reassemble the whole thing. That has to be a special kind of hell.

Do It For A Dollar?

Well, here it is for all interested parties. In my personal opinion if you just want an old house find one you don't have to move. If it's the family's homestead or a one of a kind gem, maybe. I wouldn't recommend it though. Click to enlarge the story, it's mostly legible then.

The Disease Spreads

It looks like we may have started something.

Historic house to be moved to Atkins lot

"A historic house is scheduled to be moved to a lot in the 3400 block of West Main (Highway 64). The Atkins Planning Commission unanimously approved a request last week by Sarah Keathley to move the Effie Tucker house from the Pottsville school grounds to the vacant field east of a field owned by her sister, Mary Clow. The two of them addressed the commission about the plans. Their stepfather, Ray Tucker, is preparing the house, which was his parents’ and his residence, for the move, which is scheduled for sometime in June. The house has been used as a child-care facility. The school board decided to remove it to build a new building and offered it to the family. After it is moved and renovated, Ray and Sue Tucker, his wife and mother of Clow and Keathley, plan to live in the house. (The Chronicle will have a more detailed story and pictures in a future edition. The house was built by a Dr. Jean.) The Planning Commission approved another request and accepted one permit at its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 6. The other request was rezoning of a lot just north Sexton Foods from R-2 residential to C-2 commercial. That request, by Joann Baker, for a vacant lot formerly occupied by her family, was approved unanimously. She is the wife of Charles Baker, chairman of the Planning Commission. The building permit was to Ann Goodall for a metal building used as a camper at 1703 W. Main St., $2,000. All members were present, including Chairman Charles Baker, Kathleen Napier, vice president; Janis Davis, secretary; Chris Fryer, and Elmo Bizzell, and permit inspector Albert Thatcher. Also present were Joann Baker, Mary Clow, Sarah Keathley and one reporter."

On the upside, these are good folk who seem to know what they are doing. Mrs. Clow's husband did all of our concrete work, and she brought everyone by the Devil Queen for the how-to house moving tour. I think they'll do a much better job than we did, quicker and more efficient. In any case, I wish them the best of luck.

And, apparently, we are more influencial than I thought. Even Harvard is getting into the act (thanks to EGE for the heads-up on this one).