Glebe House

Lower River Inhabitants, NS
Mover: Calvin MacDonald Forming Ltd

Calvin MacDonald is an experienced building mover. While pouring foundations is his major occupation, he estimates he moves one or two buildings a year. 

In January 1992 he moved the Glebe House of St. Francis Defales Catholic Church in Lower River Inhabitants near Port Hawkesbury. A new Glebe House was being constructed by the church for the priest so the old home, built in 1904, was no longer needed. A local resident purchased the building, hired McDonald to move it 4 kilometers away and then had it renovated as a new residence. The building footprint was 28 feet by 32 feet with a height of 30 feet.

MacDonald moves buildings by digging out the foundation and sliding large steel beams under a structure.  Wheels are then attached to the beams and the building is towed by transport truck to its final destination.

There are many considerations when moving a building, including: municipal permits, lowering electric and phone wires, taking down highway signs. For this move the RCMP was asked to provide an escort. MacDonald remembers an RCMP officer’s comment on the Glebe House move with a chuckle: “If a driver can’t see this big building coming down the road, then what use is an escort?”