VIDEO: Historic Penacook Barn Moved, Saved

Penacook resident Larry Habel had a problem.

His home on Penacook Street was very old and he was spending time and money remodeling it. First, a new bathroom, and later, a desire to build a new garage. However, his current garage was a historic barn of unknown age and while he didn’t want to tear it down, he didn’t want it either.

Enter the Fosses, Habel’s neighbors, supporters of historic preservation and an interest in the unique history and character of their neighborhood. The Fosses heard about Habel’s problem and offered to take the barn from him instead of seeing it torn down. Habel gave the barn to the Fosses if they paid to move it, which they agreed to do.

“It all worked out,” Habel said.

Harold Foss said his wife , who serves on the Concord , plans on using the barn as workspace and a library. The couple also plans on building another garage between Habel’s former barn, another barn, and their home, in the near future.

“Nobody knows how old it is,” Habel said. “Maybe 1899 … it was moved here from another location.”

“I don’t know what it is about the neighborhood but they moved barns all over the place,” Harold stated.

The Fosses hired Geddes Building Movers to do the job. Employees for the company, including owner Rick Geddes, spent the morning of Dec. 6, preparing the move.

When asked how long he had been moving building, Geddes stated, with a laugh, “It’s been way too long … 32 years."

At one point, due to mud, the building almost slipped off its trailer and the movers had to go and find steel flats to drive on, slowly moving the barn from Penacook Street to Rolfe Street … successfully.

“In the spring, we’ll put it on a pad,” Harold noted.