Historic Sanibel house makes big move to preserve history
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A house will literally be moving through Sanibel tonight. It's all part of an effort to preserve the island's history. Video by fox4now.com
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SANIBEL, Fla. - A house will literally be moving through Sanibel tonight. It's all part of an effort to preserve the island's history.
Historians on Sanibel have planned this for months. The home itself will be preserved along with several others.
One of the first Sears and Roebuck kit houses was built on sanibel island just after the turn of the century and it's on wheels for a reason.
“It's going to pull by its own with a remote controlled box.” Alex Werner is behind the project that will move this home to the Sanibel Historic Museum and village some 4 miles away.
“This actual house will become the center of the universe of the village. We have 8 structures over there – they’re all authentic homes from around Sanibel.” Werner says.
The home got to this section of Sanibel by barge on Friday from its original site not far from San Carlos Bay. At 10pm tonight, power to several LCEC customers will be cut to allow for the home’s move.
“There are five sets of power lines and each set has 2 or 3 sets of lines stacked they have to be disconnected and reconnected once the house passes through.” Werner says.
The island first got on the map when the lighthouse was built in 1884 with few inhabitants. After that, Sanibel became a farming community with only 300 residents.
The purpose of the restoration and move is to remember the history of this island that now has well over 6,000 residents.
“Our island became a winter time farming community in 1885.” Werner says.
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