MUSKEGON, Mich. — Wednesday morning a crowd gathered on Third Street in downtown Muskegon for something you don't see everyday. However, it is a sight Muskegon residents have seen before. That is, residents in 1890 also watched as the Nelson House was paraded through the streets. Wednesday morning, the historic home was moved once again.
Crews with Deitz House Moving Engineers lifted the Nelson House off of its foundation and moved it from Jefferson Street to the nearby Historic District. Now, the home sits at its new home, 382 West Muskegon Avenue.
Built in 1869, the home originally sat on what is now Hackley Park. In 1890, when plans to build the park were made, instead of tearing the home down they moved it. In the spirit of a city known for its deep roots in the lumber industry, the home was moved onto rolling logs pulled by horses down Fourth Street in 1891.
Nelson House was moved next to St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church at 1292 Jefferson Street. The home was used as a rectory for the church, and it remained in that place for 133 years. However, history repeated itself in 2024. The home was set to be demolished until the city stepped in to save it.
This time though, the home was lifted onto massive steel girders raised by huge hydraulic jacks before large semi-truck wheels were attached to the girder so it could once again parade through the streets of Muskegon. Saving the house cost the city more than $200,000, but that's a price many feel was worth paying to be able to hold onto such an important piece of history for the community.
Resident James Hightower said it was amazing watching something like this happen so close to home, close enough that he could watch it from his porch.
"As you can see, it's once again, it's just, it's something that is very great, amazing, and you see the level of technology and things we put together, and I'm just sitting here enjoying it like the rest of the people are," said Hightower.
While residents enjoyed watching the move, the Deitz crew was focused on wires that had to be lifted, tree branches trimmed away, parking spaces cleared and any other obstacles moved to clear the way for the two-story home to roll down the street.
"The house itself weighs 165 tons with the steel underneath it," said Daniel Deitz, Vice President of Deitz House Moving Engineers before the move.
"We figure that it's going to take us anywhere from four to seven hours, depending upon how the corners go. If the corners go like clockwork, goes the shorter end of things. We're hoping to be done by noon. But you never can tell."
By the time noon rolled around on Wednesday, Nelson House was sitting at its new home. However, crews aren't done with the house just yet. A foundation will be built for the home to sit on so that it can rest securely.
Eventually, the house will be put up for sale, making 382 West Muskegon Avenue a new home not just for the Nelson House, but for whoever moves in as well.