Craddock House move possibly delayed again due to weather
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
BURNET — City officials hoped to get the historic Craddock House up and moved to its new home Jan. 25, but a few days of rain forced the postponement of the operation until Jan. 31.
However, the move might get pushed back again if anticipated rains occur on the days leading up to the move.
“It’s on a week-to-week basis,” City Manager David Vaughn said. “We have everybody on notice, ready to go.”
Though the streets might be dry and solid, Vaughn said crews worry the rain-soaked grounds where the home is going won’t be able to support the structure and equipment. So instead of risking the house and the trucks getting stuck, the best plan is to wait until conditions are right.
The Craddock House sits on city-owned property bounded by Jackson, Vanderveer, League and Boundary streets a few blocks east of the downtown courthouse square. City leaders are eyeing the property for construction of new city offices but can’t move forward with those plans until after the house is moved.
Some residents wanted the more than 100-year-old house preserved on site. But city officials faced a significant expense by preserving and renovating the home.
Vaughn said the city reached an agreement with A.B. Walters of Airy Mount Bed & Breakfast to preserve and renovate the structure on his property, located on the east edge of town off Texas 29. The city agreed to fund up to $70,000 to assist with moving the structure.
Vaughn said the city estimates it would cost at least $300,000 to renovate the Craddock House at the current location. As part of the agreement, Walters isn’t paying for the house but agrees to preserve it.
The Craddock House will become part of the Airy Mount property. Vaughn said Walters has a phenomenal plan to use the house as a part of the property, which will eventually include three restaurants, a greenhouse, horses and a garden. The city manager described Walters’ facility as a destination that will draw people to Burnet.
This isn’t the first older structure Walters and his wife have preserved, Vaughn said. The Craddock House’s new design on life fits right into the plans of the city’s Economic Development Corp. to build up Burnet as a destination spot and compliments current efforts, which include bringing a winery to the downtown square.
“We want to see the building preserved,” Vaughn said. “It’s truly a preservation project for us.”
Under the plan to move the house, crews will get the Craddock House in position near Texas 29 the Friday before the actual move. Then, on the Sunday of the move, crews will begin transporting the house about a mile to Airy Mount. Vaughn said he anticipates it will take two to two-and-a-half hours to move the home, all in once piece, to its new site.
Vaughn said though the city and the Texas Department of Transportation won’t stop traffic on Texas 29 during the move, people should except traffic to be impeded a bit.
Due to the size of the structure, crews will actually have to use cranes to move light poles at Rhomberg and Hill streets so the house will fit through.
“It’s quite an impressive operation,” Vaughn said. “I’ll be one of the rubberneckers when it happens.”
Go to www.cityofburnet.com or the city of Burnet’s Facebook page for updates on the move.
Picayune reporter Connie Swinney contributed to this article.
editor@thepicayune.com