A Welcome Center was needed.  None of the original farmhouses still existed, so another building was needed to act as a Welcome Center.

It happened that a suitable house in downtown Fairfield was available.

Sept 26, 2008:
Plans are made to move this house to the Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm.

West side of the house, at the corner of W. Briggs Ave and 2nd St.

The move finally took place April 29, 2009.    Here is the story.

It was a grey and misty morning, but the little house was all ready to go. The kind workers had gently lifted her off her foundation, where she had been for 82 years, and placed wheels under her. Now they were waiting for the 1957 Mack truck, and as soon as the traffic cleared, they would start her journey to her new home.

For she was no longer wanted at W. Briggs Ave. They needed her lot for parking. But it was getting too busy here anyway, and when she got an invitation to move to an old farmstead, she jumped at the chance. The three old barns wanted her there, to welcome visitors and tell stories in her museum, about the farms history and early Fairfield industries related to agriculture, and to provide housing for a caretaker. She would have a purpose again!!!

But power lines and big trees blocked the way. It was only about a mile down Main Street, but they told her she was too tall and it would be too expensive. She thought she would never get to the Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm.

Then some clever men figured they could remove her roof and take her the long way round down country roads. She agreed immediately.

Soon she felt the old Mack truck pulling her down the road, people watching and waving, through the construction zone, flashing lights in front and back. She smiled at all the fuss she was making.

When she got to the farmstead, a new foundation was waiting, but the rains had created a muddy mess, and the old Mack had to get help in getting her located just right. After a while she felt herself being gently pulled onto the foundation, then all the people left.

She was lonely, but later that night the old barns gave her a hardy welcome, and she felt better, and men came back and replaced her roof and fixed her up better than she had ever been!

The front and rear porch roof shingles will be installed after the gables are painted.

She laughed with joy that the clever men had been able to get a grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs through the Great Places project to help her move to her new wonderful place in the world.

Her garage was able to join the house at the farm.

The end.    Or rather, a new beginning.
We thank everyone who helped us move this house.

See more photos of the house move.

Or return to the Welcome Center page

© 2009-2011 Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee