Move

When the Bailey House was acquired by the Historic Preservation Partnership of Lyndon (HPPL) in the summer of 1997, it was required that the house be moved from its original site. The Richman-Helstrom Trucking Company, of Burlingame, KS, was hired to move the house to the Lyndon City Park. Prior to the move, HPPL members removed a small front porch from the house on the north side, as well as an enclosed porch on the east side of the house. Richman-Helstrom workers removed an addition that had been added to the house on the south side - probably in the early 1900’s. This was accomplished by cutting the two structures apart (see photographs.)

HPPL members also had historic preservation professionals perform a study of the house onsite, had wood identification tests done on five of the logs, and performed an amateur archeological dig on the immediate areas surrounding the house. The lath and plaster walls were also removed from the inside of the house in order to avoid having this done in the park. However, removing the lath and plaster later proved to be detrimental to the structural integrity of the house.

Richman-Helstrom workers began preparing the house for its 5-1/2 mile move into town, which occurred in October of 1997. A route was chosen which would require the least movement of utility lines. After the move, a cement foundation was poured for the house, however winter weather delayed placement on the foundation until spring of 1998. The clapboard siding was also removed soon after the house arrived at the park. Like the lath and plaster interior walls, removal of the exterior clapboard siding, while more esthetic, proved to be devastating to the house and led to its deterioration. 

Here are some photos of the W.P. Bailey House move and restoration: