55 Houses That Were Restored To Their Historical Glory
Before & After ~ Move It or Lose It!
One of Mobile, Alabama’s, greatest preservation success stories in recent years! Before image: WPMI 15 News.
Originally located on Tuscaloosa Street, the house was built around 1852 as an addition to a much older home. In fact, the earlier portion, built in 1825, is thought to be among the very oldest surviving homes in the city.
In 2018, under new ownership, the house was threatened with demolition for the property to become a parking lot for a neighboring business.
With demolition permits already approved, local preservation group Restore Mobile and area preservationists sprang into action to save the home. Thanks to the determination of local developer Bob Isakson Sr., the home was carefully cut into sections and moved off of the property to save it from the wrecking ball.
The earlier portion was moved to a new location to be restored by Isakson and the 1850’s portion, shown here, found its new home on a lot owned by preservationist, Steve May. After restoration, May and his family moved into the house.
Sometimes, the only way to save a house is to move it, as was the case here. When commercial or institutional encroachment leaves a historic house stranded in a context where it is no longer desirable as a home and is likely to be demolished, relocating it to a vacant lot in an appropriate neighborhood can be the right move, so to speak.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” was written to help people who want to restore a house with sensitivity to its character-defining features.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
