Commuters driving through town on Sunday, Dec. 8, were greeted with an unusual sight: a house on wheels gliding slowly down Center Street from the George Fox University (GFU) campus to its lot on 2nd Street.
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The Hodson House, as it is known, was relocated from the GFU parking lot—where it had rested on stilts since July 2024—to the 600 block of 2nd Street, situated between Willcuts Company Realtors and Yore Place! Plumbing. The move required coordination among Comcast, Ziply, and Portland General Electric to ensure utility lines were safely managed.
Doug Peterson, a local developer and owner of both the lot and the Hodson House, said the process went smoothly.
“The guys did a really great job,” Peterson said. “It was really slick, and it’s great to see all the measurements were true: it fits perfectly in the lot. It looks like it’s been there forever.”
The Hodson House, formerly known as the Center for Peace Learning, was disconnected from its foundation in July at the corner of North Meridian and East Sherman streets. The house was gifted to Peterson with the condition that he keep the house intact and relocate to a suitable location. It had remained elevated on blocks while awaiting relocation across OR 99W, which divides downtown Newberg.
According to Rob Felton, GFU’s director of university relations, the historic house was in good condition. The university planned the move to make way for additional parking on campus and sought to preserve the house rather than see it demolished.
The relocation, originally scheduled to move last week had been delayed due to a malfunctioning hydraulic power unit required for the move. Once repaired, the house made its way down Center Street with only minor issues, such as a few broken tree branches.
“People were referring to it as the house from Up, which is pretty fun,” Peterson said. “We want to make it a beautiful Victorian-style home anyway. Maybe we’ll lean in to that theme and paint it the same colors as the movie.”
The house remains on stilts as crews work to connect it to its foundation and install plumbing and electrical systems. Peterson said a prospective tenant is “pretty confirmed,” though details are not finalized. He expects the space to be fully functional by summer 2025.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Hodson House Moves
Overhead photos taken by Bryan Joyce of Newberg, who documented the house’s move. Click on the photos for fullscreen view.
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