Historic house on Mount Pleasant Street moved to county

The new owners of the old house at 212 Mount Pleasant St. have moved it to the country. Elvie Carpenter and his wife, Billie-Jo, bought the house in 2010 and have been working on a remodel ever since.

The house was built in 1901 and has been sitting on the lot next to the east-west railroad track until now. After they bought the house, Mr. Carpenter completely redid the exterior and interior of the old house.

“My wife so wanted the house,” Mr. Carpenter said, “so we took on the project to save it.”

Mr. Carpenter’s family has been in the Pittsburg area for at least 100 years and so has Mrs. Carpenter’s family, whose maiden name was Greer. The Carpenters were graduates of Pittsburg schools and high school sweethearts. They now have four children.

The house was rather run down when the Carpenters purchased it.

“It had holes in the floor and holes in the roof and was on the verge of falling in,” Mrs. Carpenter said. “I just love old houses and really love this one.”

Mrs. Carpenter said it had to be love for Mr. Carpenter to take on the project.

“He’s done all the work himself,” she said.

The move began by Mr. Carpenter buying 10 acres from his family. The family did not intend to move the house originally, but planned to live in it where it was.

“Well the house is perfect for us, so we decided we’re just going to take it out there,” Mrs. Carpenter said.

W. L. Garrett, the builder of the historical Garrett Building at 102 Quitman, built the first floor of his mercantile store in 1902. He purchased the house as a wedding present for one of his children in 1910.

“So at one point, Mr. Garrett bought it but it’s been owned by lots of people,” Mrs. Carpenter said. “That’s the biggest name in town that has had possession of the house.”

The house, which is a typical turn of the century structure, is large with high ceilings and large rooms.

 “My husband lowered the 14-foot ceilings to 10 feet and then refinished the attic into a play and game room,” Mrs. Carpenter said. “He managed to keep the original bottom floor plan from the 1900’s.”

The L. W. Oney House Moving Company out of Marshall, Texas was hired to move the house. The house was braced then cut into four pieces before it was moved. The four pieces consisted of two roof sections and two bottom floor sections.

“It came apart like a puzzle,” Mr. Carpenter said.

Once cut apart, two heavy cranes lifted the first roof section and the bottom section was loaded onto a huge trailer and moved out from under the roof section. Next, another large trailer was backed into position and the first roof section was gingerly lowered by the two crane operators onto the large trailer.

The crew raised the section and lowered it several times to insure it was cradled just so for the trip to its new home. Then, that part of the house was moved away as well.

By Ellis Knox, reporter@campcountynow.com -- To continue reading this article, purchase the print edition of The Pittsburg Gazette or go to our online e-edition at:http://www.etypeservices.com/Pittsburg%20GazetteID315/default.aspx