REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- Giving a house, a home. Tuesday, preparation started for the relocation of the historic Joseph House.
The 100-year-old house as been a home, a storefront, and most recently, vacant. Tuesday, the new owner and Clear Space Theatre had a short ceremony to celebrate the history of the home and its new venture.
"The closure is massive. We've been waiting a while, since I moved here two years ago. It's been a long time coming. Definitely the most interesting house purchase ever," said homeowner, Tom Kelly.
It costs about 30-thousand dollars to move. One year ago, Clear Space sold the house for just a dollar, hoping to make space for a new theater.
"The inside has a lot of nice features. Wainscoting and a wonderful farm sink, and doorways, and a little narrow stairway to upstairs, and those are the things I think are the most charming about the house," said Wesley Paulson with Clear Space Theatre.
While it sounds like a big project, Kelly is excited to take it on.
"Really the shape of the home is what makes it desirable. It's the perfect size. Not really deteriorating or damaged for what it's worth. Just a great opportunity," said Kelly.
He's making the house his new home. He's moving it less than a mile away, across Coastal Highway, to an empty lot on Lincoln Street.
"It's really the perfect size for the beach cottage as everyone seems to romanticize, and I do too, so I'd like to keep it pretty much intact," said Kelly.
The next step is to take the roof off. Then, get the house moving.
"Get steels beams to go under. The whole grid is steel. Special wheels will go in the back and then it will hook onto a truck tractor and we will pull it right on out," said John Davidson with East Coast Structural Movers.
The roof will be put back on after the move. The house will be out of the ground this Thursday. It will make the move to its new location next week.
