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Project 8a: Preparing to Move the Barn... Project
8b:
Moving the
Barn... Project 8c: Moving the
Stuff... |
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Project 8a: Preparing to Move the Barn
Onto A Firm Foundation |
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The barn was situated in an
absolutely wonderful spot on the lot, with views of the garden shed, the
river and the land. However, the foundation that it rested on was close
to 200 years old, and was just a pile of rocks laid one upon another.
Despite this, the building was straight and plumb, for its era, and full
of charm. So the decision to move it wasn't an easy one.
Finally, with
consultations with building professionals, it seemed to make sense to
move it out of the strong north-westerly winds and into a protected spot
in the sun, where Ed Harding, the dear fellow whose family lived here
for over fifty years, used to have a great garden. And it
certainly made sense to place it on a strong new foundation. So here's how it happened: |
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Creating a Foundation |
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First, the digging. |
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Then, the forms were brought in and
placed and the footings poured. |
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Then, the walls were formed and
poured. |
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There won't be a poured
floor--just the Maine ledge. |
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A special stocking took the
cement to the far side of the walls where the supervisor kept an
eye on the flow. |
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Then a representative from the Central
Maine Power company arrived to discuss moving the electrical lines that
are in the way. The men reached an understanding.
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And the new foundation
is ready for the barn.
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Moving the Barn |
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Finally, it was time to
actually move the barn from its ancient resting place on ledge and Maine
stones and boulders onto the strong, stable new foundation.
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The barn won't have this glorious
river view, but it will be surrounded by mature apple trees and pines of
all varieties, facing the lovely sloping lawn. |
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First, the building movers gently jacked
up the barn, in place.
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Then they placed the beams that would carry the barn forward onto the
driveway. |
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They added an extra eye
beam to hold up the chimney. |
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They then "greased the
skids" with Crisco, so that one eye beam, carrying the barn, slid well
on the other eye beam into the driveway area. |
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They placed the beams for
the next step--moving the barn onto the driveway. |
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Then they each manned a
vehicle and started to pull. |
