Auburn residents and drivers had a unique sight last week as a two-story home was moved from near the Auburn Christian Church to its new location in northern Auburn. The former Auburn Christian Church parsonage will soon become the new home of Billie Pieters.

Billie told the newspaper last week that she had heard of the home being available if a party would agree to move it from west of the church and return the ground around it to a condition suitable for construction at such a time that the congregation may choose to build upon it. Pieters said the agreement which she signed last fall included a stipulation that the work would be completed by April of 2012.
Pieters hired Ryan Baltensperger of Johnson who had the equipment and crew necessary to complete such a project. Baltensperger had earlier acquired equipment from the former Ensor Movers.
Baltensperger contacted the utilities whose property would be impacted by the move. Billie coordinated with plumbers and electricians to prepare the house for the move.
Moving a two-story house — which measures about 28X42 feet — along city streets required cooperation from the Auburn Board of Public Works, Windstream and Time Warner Cable. In addition, Greenwade Tree Service was hired to assist with any tree branches which needed trimmed along the city’s parkways.
The move began at about 8 a.m. that Tuesday and the house reached its new location by around 1 p.m. It took several hours more to transfer the house to its new foundation. Many spectators watched the project as it progressed down Auburn’s streets.     
When asked what surprised her the most about the project, Pieters said it was some cracking to the walls which occurred when the house was being lifted off its former foundation and prepared for the move. Billie expects to be able to move into her new home in about a month.  
Pieters is the daughter of Dave and Beth Pieters, Auburn. A 2005 Auburn High School graduate, Miss Pieters went on to earn a degree from Harding University in Arkansas in 2009. After residing in Pennsylvania for a while, she returned to Auburn in November of 2010. She is a paraoptometric with Lifetime Vision Center in Auburn.