VIDEO: Nickel Bros moves house from 1262 Alki SW, B.C.-bound

12:40 AM: We’re in the 1200 block of Alki SW, where – as we reported Friday afternoon – the structure-moving specialists of Nickel Bros are moving another West Seattle house that otherwise would be destined for demolition.

This time, it’s 1262 Alki SW, one of the beach houses on what’s now the future site of SolTerra’s development Perch. The house is being towed by a truck, foot by foot, off the lot, in the start-stop-start mode right now, and once it’s in the middle of Alki Avenue – which will be closed for the operation – it’ll be taken to Don Armeni Boat Ramp and put on a barge. Eventual destination: New site in B.C. Updates to come!

12:58 AM: The house is now fully off the lot and on the road.

1:08 AM: We’re on the way to Don Armeni to check the progress from the end of the route. Above, what the house looked like as it passed – two stories, compared to the single-story log house the same company moved cross-peninsula last month, so literally a larger undertaking. And as noted in our afternoon preview, commenters pointed out that this house does have history – until a few years ago, it was home of Fred and Marjorie Dau, owners of Admiralty House Antiques (2141 California SW, where Mioposto is now). She died in 2013; he closed the shop later that year, and died in 2014.

1:27 AM: Thanks to Lynn Hall for the photo above, an overhead view as the house – built in 1962, according to county Assessor’s Office records – passed Luna/Anchor Park.

1:57 AM: After a brief return to HQ, we’re back in the Don Armeni vicinity, and the house is too. It’s on Harbor Avenue just outside the entrance to the boat-ramp park and the road is fully blocked there, which is a surprise to drivers arriving where we’re idling just before the roadblock.

2:21 AM: The house is now in the Don Armeni lot and the road is open again.

2:37 AM: Looks like part two of the operation will be a while, and the barge is not at the ramp yet, so we are going to check back in a few hours. (High tide is at 7:30 am.)

7:45 AM: Thanks to Richard for this photo taken minutes ago:

(added) And thanks to the anonymous reader who sent this photo:

Junction Lady January 20, 2018 (7:11 am)

Where will the house reside?

rpo January 20, 2018 (8:01 am)

Somewhere in BC.
- WSB January 20, 2018 (10:09 am)
  
  I asked Nick at Nickel Bros that when we spoke by phone yesterday. I just consulted the piece of paper on which I scribbled my notes (we were in the car at the time) and I wrote down “Desmond Island” but can’t find any such island on the map – there is a Denman Island, though.
  
  https://goo.gl/maps/E3xLnCKZ32R2

JayDee January 20, 2018 (7:49 am)

Simply amazing.

Marianne January 20, 2018 (6:08 pm)

Agreed-Thank you Nickel Brothers!

miws January 20, 2018 (8:23 am)

How cool that Nickel Bros. has saved yet another home, especially considering that it belonged to the Daus with their longtime history in West Seattle, and their family business.

I’d guess there’s a pretty good chance that they may have built the house, or at least moved in when it was new.

Mike

Trickycoolj January 20, 2018 (8:43 am)

I had a friend who was struggling so hard to find a home in BC for her growing family they started considering these houses from WA because it’s so much cheaper believe it or not!

Gregg January 20, 2018 (8:46 am)

GREAT COVERAGE!

ProudPapa January 20, 2018 (11:00 am)

Nice Houseboat.

Just anchor off to the North a little and you have a stellar view.

dsa January 20, 2018 (11:37 am)

Great news coverage, thank you.

MJ January 20, 2018 (11:53 am)

Nice photos. Its good the home is to be re-used.

sc January 20, 2018 (12:11 pm)

Using the 1928 Seattle House and Street Directory the family living in the original house at 1262 ALki was the Fred Gilson family. In the 1930 U.S. Census Inga Gilson and 4 children were living there. The oldest boy, Fred, age 21 was a repairman at the Luna Pool Natatorium.

Luna Park was an amusement park in Seattle, Washington that operated from 1907 until 1913 when it closed.The Natatorium continued to operate, however, changing its name to Luna Pool. In 1931 Luna Pool caught fire and the remains of Luna Park were destroyed in the blaze.

In 1946, the City of Seattle filled in the pools of the Natatorium to avoid potential lawsuits. Today the site is known as Anchor Park due to the sizable anchor, salvaged from the waters near this location, that is on display. The park also features observational viewers that project phantom images of Luna Park over Elliott Bay, offering visitors a glimpse into the past. Today all that remains of the Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast are the original pilings, which are visible during extremely low tide.