2006 Snapshot:
When plans for a new development put an 1862 farmhouse in Belleville, Illinois, at risk, Rose Heet-Stoeber—the home’s fifth-generation owner—faced a difficult choice. She agreed to sell the property, but only if the homestead could be saved in its entirety, moved and rebuilt exactly as it stood.
That challenge brought together an extraordinary team. TWM served as the structural engineering consultant, working alongside Expert House Movers, Inc. to carefully lift and relocate the 600-ton, L-shaped brick home—furniture, heirlooms, and all—without a single item breaking. At the same time, TWM’s surveyors meticulously documented the home’s precise orientation, fencing, landscaping, and surrounding features, so every detail could be recreated 400 yards to the east.
The move, later featured on the series Mega Moves, showcased not only the technical complexity of relocating a historic structure under extreme conditions, but also what’s possible when engineering expertise meets respect for history. In the end, the homestead wasn’t just moved—it was preserved for future generations, proving that progress doesn’t have to come at the expense of the past.
