The folks that settled in the Waterville area were mostly of practical New England stock or thrifty Germans. They built sturdy houses as one can tell from the number of 1837-1850 houses in our historic district. If a house or commercial building were in the way of progress or no longer suitable in its location they would move that building to another lot. Most could not tolerate wasting a perfectly good building. They did this early on without machinery until the 1900s when trucks could be substituted for horses or oxen and many of these houses that were moved are standing and in use today. In 1910 the Village Council drafted an ordinance regulating the moving of buildings within the Village. Many buildings were moved and we would like to point out just a few examples.

1. The Wabash Hotel originally stood at the corner of Wood St. (Farnsworth) and Main (River Road) across from the Columbian House where it competed for stagecoach travelers. By 1850 the Miami and Erie Canal had replaced the wagon road for travelers and Third St. became the business district. Mr. L.L. Morehouse, one of Waterville’s successful and wealthy businessmen, bought the hotel and had it moved across the alley to Second Street so he could build his residence on that corner. Today the Wabash Tavern, two front doors and all, still stands in the middle of the block on Second Street and is best known as the home of the late Brian Lonsway, glass blower and town character. The Morehouse-Downs house still occupies the corner on which it was built and both houses are on the Waterville Historical Society walking tour.

2. The large two story building known as the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Building was originally built on the Southeast corner of Wood St. (Farnsworth Road) and Third Street, with the Waterville Bank on the first floor. When the bank decided that they wanted a newer modern bank building the Lodge in 1924 moved that two story frame building north on Third Street to its present location at 16 North Third Street and it remained home to the I.O.O.F. while the street level has been home to a succession of businesses over the years. The “new” bank building, a bank for years, today is empty at present. It may soon find a new occupant.

#3 House on Locust Street used to be at Quarry

3. The square building with the hip roof at the end of Locust Street used to be at the stone quarry (see photo) where it was a dormitory building for workers. No longer needed it was moved into town to become private duplex residence.

4. The Chamber parking lot on the northeast corner of Farnsworth and Second Street once supported a one and half story house as shown in old records. That house was moved way out on Dutch Road and changed from town house to the farm house it is today.

5. The 1885 Village Hall was replaced in 1996 by a new modern City Hall and the Lutheran Church on Second Street needed the space it occupied. It was turned 90 degrees and made a short move to the northeast corner of Farnsworth and Second where it found new life as home to the Waterville Chamber of Commerce.

We could go on and on with many more examples but the point is made. Our predecessors would not tear down a perfectly good building if it could be helped. If they had to demolish a house, they often re-used the lumber in a new structure. Perhaps some of our readers live in a house that moved? If you know of other houses that have been moved please let us know. We are trying to keep records of all of them!

HOUSES THAT MOVE