McIvers, Newfoundland, Canada, played host to an astonishing sight when a couple floated their dream home 50 miles across a lake. The feat was accomplished with the help of others
She was still a little girl when Daniele Penney fell in love with the green house on McIvers. She loved it so much she would joke around that someday she would own it.
“It’s just something about the house,” she said. “And it’s not only for me — I think it’s for everybody.”
The house, originally owned by Warren Blanchard, is over 100 years old. He died in World War II. The house was inherited by his mother then later passed on to Warren’s daughter, Elsie Blanchard.
When Elsie died, the house was sold to artist Collette Urban.
Daniele often spoke to her partner, Kirk Lovell, about that beautiful “biscuit box” house. Her childhood love for the house stayed with her telling him she loved its open concept design, low ceilings upstairs, and old porcelain sink.
“It has so much character in it,” she said.
Kirk initially did not like the house. It was old and it needed repairs. Then he slowly began to warm up to it.
When Collette Urban died, the house was bought by Jeff and Sheila Edison in 2013. Daniele was heartbroken.
“It was like my dream was just gone and I knew I wasn’t going to get it,” she recalled.
Sheila wanted the house as a summer home. The plan was to retire in McIvers with her husband. But the house didn’t suit their vision so they planned to tear it down and build a new one.
Daniele and Kirk heard about Sheila’s plan, so they approached Sheila and bought the home. Kirk and Daniele with their six-month-old daughter, Harper Lovell, now had the house.
Power lines in the neighborhood would make moving the house difficult. That’s when they thought of floating their new purchase.
“I wanted to see if it could float. They did it back in the ’60s and they never had much to work with. Today with modernized technology and equipment I figured why not,” Daniele said.
Kirk went to work and built a frame with wheels underneath. He attached 28 plastic barrels with some Styrofoam on the structure. The house could sit on it while it floated.
Daniele was on edge seeing her dream house on the water.
“It was like you were teeter-tottering on faith. Was it going to stay afloat? Was it going to sink?” she said.
And while it was on the move, Kirk’s dory broke down. The house began to tip and sink but he was able to get another dory before other people came to help move the floating home.
After some difficulties, the floating house reached land and excavators hauled it up the hill.
Daniele and Kirk were so proud of what they just accomplished. Their dream house is now on their land with a new basement they’ve installed. Daniele has plans of decorating and hopes that the house will be ready by Christmas.
Watch the amazing move below!
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