After 281 years, the King of Prussia Inn, an historic meeting place for George Washington and his troops during the revolutionary war, has found a new home.
The King of Prussia Inn, which was built as a family home in 1719, was relocated to make way for the expansion of Route 202. The roadway connects Philadelphia, PA, with many suburbs.
The inn was located in the median between the north and south lanes of Route 202 just north of Gulph Road. It was moved a mere half a mile away, where a foundation already has been laid to accommodate the 35-ft.-wide by 50-ft. long (11 by 15 m) structure.
International Chimney Corp. of Buffalo, NY, who was contracted to move the historic building, rented two Genie boom lifts — a 540 and a 560 — from Ransome Rents, Limerick, PA, to install the exterior bracing on the unit to secure it for the move, according to Jim Scott, site manager.
“The bracing helps beef up the strength of the building so nothing shifts as it’s being transported,” Scott explained.
The 40- and 60-ft. (12 and 18 m) boom lifts also were used to help set some of the very large bracing that International Chimney Corp. manufactured at the site, which was lifted into place by a Caterpillar TH83 telehandler.
Crews from International Chimney Corp. excavated around the building to 4 ft. (1.2 m) below grade in order to install the 200,000 lbs. (90,000 kg) of steel needed to lift the building and carry it to its new site. Once the steel was in place, the building was jacked up approximately 6 ft. (1.8 m) into the air so 20 rubber-tired dollies could be placed under the building.
The dollies are hydraulically driven and were the sole driving force behind the move.
Parts of northbound Route 202 and Gulph Road were closed for the day and a half it took to move the building. During that time, one major rotation of the building took place, and several small adjustments had to be made. It initially was anticipated that the move would only take 12 to 14 hours, but several complications put the project behind schedule.
Once the building reached its final destination, it was set on the foundation and block walls were built under the steel undercarriage to support the load. After the block walls cured, the steel was removed and the building began to settle.
International Chimney Corp. also rented from Ransome Rents a stump grinder to cut down two trees almost 48 in. (123 cm) in diameter on the site and a Partner chop saw to cut pipes and stones during the excavation.
The building became an inn in 1759 and is listed on the national register of historical places.
The inn was condemned by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in 1954 and 20 years later was placed on the National Register of Historical Places to keep it from being demolished. In 1996, PennDOT issued a request proposal on relocation and ownership of the building to enable the eventual widening of Route 202. Responses were received from all over the country, but the King of Prussia Chamber of Commerce’s proposal was the one that was accepted.
The Chamber of Commerce will restore the building, turning it into a museum and community center. The restoration is expected to be completed by spring 2001.
This is far from the first project of this sort that International Chimney Corp. has tackled — a couple of years ago the company made the “Guinness Book of World Records” for moving the Gem Theatre in Detroit, MI, the largest structure ever moved on rubber tires. Scott said the company also was responsible for relocating the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999.
Giles & Ransome Inc., headquartered in Bensalem, PA, is the authorized distributor for Caterpillar in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Northern Delaware.
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