Kana Family Moved Houses At the Turn of the Century

One of John Kana’s first building move at the turn of the century 1899-1900.

This story told by Florian Kana as he heard it from his dad, George Kana, who heard it from HIS dad, John Kana.

John Kana’s neighbor had a building resting in a flood prone area along a creek. He wanted it moved so he approached John and asked if he could do it. John, being a master of all trades, said he would give it a try. So with the help of more neighbors – no hired hands – he managed to move the building up hill with 16 mules hitched to it.

The move took about 3 ½ days and as I heard it, they all spent that last ½ day celebrating the unusual move…….. drinking warm homemade beer and eating a late lunch and dinner.

John - being first of all a rancher, farmer, blacksmith, butcher - figured he could also become a house mover so he made himself some timbers – wood wheels. Acquired some screw jacks and started moving buildings – not so much as a profession but as another side line. Much of his pulling power came from a cap stand also known as a “stump puller” as he called it. He had at least two of these which were put to hard use clearing his wooded land that he turned into plowed land for growing his crops.