The house that I lived in was at 185 Christie
Street, with my Father's foundry in the back. My father wanted to
expand the foundry's facilities, so he purchased a lot at 162 Brill
Street to move his residence to. A excavation was dug at that lot,
with a real Steam Shovel. A new foundation for the house was constructed
of concrete block.
Across on Christie Street, holes were punched in the old house
foundation and large timbers were inserted. The whole house was
jacked up, and slid on a sort of wooden trestle. It was pulled by
a heavy line around a capstan. First across the intersection, then
about 100 feet up Brill Street.
The truck with the capstan was relocated at back of house. Now
building was pulled back towards the lot. The house was positioned,
and jacks lowered it to sit on new foundation.
I had Scarlet Fever at the time and the house was quarantined
with a huge Yellow Sign on the front door. All my siblings were
farmed out to relatives and friends. Not one window or picture was
broken and no walls were cracked.
A really great job in the mid 20's.
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