Friends Helped Move A Building By Hand

Friends Helped Move A Building By Hand BUILDINGS New Techniques 30-2-2 By Arthur Bolduc When Dennis Miller, Butler, Ohio, decided to move a 24 by 50-ft. storage building a hundred feet or so away on his farm, he knew a moving contractor would cost a lot of money and heavy equipment would tear up the yard. Instead, he decided to move it himself with the help of a few neighbors. It ended up being a pleasant way to spend a spring evening. The actual move took just 5 minutes and then the rest of the evening was spent sitting around enjoying cold drinks and home-baked pastry. The prep work took longer, of course, and involved cutting the building from its foundation, bracing the inside and installing steel straps connected to 1 1/2-in. steel pipe that ran around the perimeter of the building. Shortly before 7 p.m., horse-drawn buggies and pickups started arriving on the Amish farm. While the women set up tables, chairs and benches on the lawns the men appraised the building and move. It wouldn't be moved in a straight line, but three short moves, including three 90 degree turns. At 7 p.m., 60 or more strong backs bent and lifted the building off the ground and carried it to the new foundation. It took just 4 minutes and 12 seconds. It was an excellent fit on the foundation and nobody got a strained muscle.

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