9:30AM UPDATE: House moving has begun

The house is loaded on the truck, heading down South Avenue

Despite drizzly conditions, crews have started moving the house next to St. Benedict's Church.

The house left Court Street at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, turned onto West Main, took a left onto State Street, a right at East Water, a left onto Riverside Avenue and was on South Avenue around 9:30 a.m.

The moving crew will take the house all the way east on South Avenue, then turn left onto Sumner Street to Center Street and a right onto 5th Street and over the Upper Iowa River at Twin Bridges. The house will make the journey up Quarry Hill Road and take a left onto Clay Hill Road, take a right onto Middle Hesper Road and rest for the night on Meadowlark Road.

Aylsworth Movers will check everything and make sure it is secure for the second day move. Thursday morning they will make the long trip on Highway 52 to the final stop between Decorah and Calmar.

Power lines are a concern, but Alliant Energy crews are monitoring the move

(Click on photos for larger images)