The house was safely transported to its new location on Highway 15-A between Champion and Imperial. (Johnson Publications photo)
Left, Laura Lou Kelly, talks with a member of Highline Electric as the house she was born in was moved to a new location on Monday. (Johnson Publications photo)
One-hundred-two-year-old house moved from south Champion
The roads of southwestern Chase County were crowded Monday as a house in rural Champion was moved to a new location.
The 102-year-old house, now owned by Jeff Bechard and Laura Maddox-Bechard of Imperial, was the childhood home of Laura Lou Kelly.
“I was actually born in that house,” Kelly said.
“(The house) is going to have another life,” she added. “It’s nice that other people can enjoy it.”
The Bechard family moved to Imperial last year from Ohio.
Jeff runs the grain division at the Frenchmen Valley Coop in Imperial. Laura works remotely for the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI).
They purchased the house from Meeske Cattle, and was located at 32551 732 Road, Champion. It was moved to 32890 S 15-A.
The house was moved by Star House Moving of Grant.
The route the house traveled included power lines that hung too low for the house to pass through.
Highline Electric had multiple crew members on during the move. Some power lines were disconnected and laid in the ditch, while others were lifted via a boom truck.
The Bechards are trying to be patient about getting settled.
“It’ll be awhile,” Maddox-Bechard said. “We’re going to do a pretty major renovation and addition.”
They will continue to stay in Imperial until the renovations are completed.
“That’s 100 years of history on wheels,” Maddox-Bechard said of the move. “And hopefully 100 more years of great memories and adventures in her future.”