Bakersfield.com

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The historic home of long-time Tejon Ranch manager J.J. Lopez is scheduled to begin its move from Rosedale Highway and Calloway Drive to the Kern County Museum on April 20 beginning at 1 a.m. with arrival scheduled for 5 a.m.

As a precautionary measure the California Highway Patrol has the following message, “Motorists are advised to avoid the area between the hours of 1a.m.-6 a.m. The CHP will be on the scene for the duration of the move.”

The house will be moved along the following route: Calloway Drive north from Rosedale Highway to Olive Drive. Right on Olive Drive continuing across the Union Pacific railroad tracks and turning right on Roberts Lane. Roberts Lane east to Chester Avenue. Right on Chester Avenue continuing south, past the Kern County Museum entrance, and turning right just past the Clock Tower to enter the museum grounds.
Lopez, who built the house in 1906 or 1909, moved to Kern County in 1874 and became a long time Tejon Ranch manager. The house was moved from its original location on California and Chester avenues to the present location in 1953, after being purchased by Otis Coppock. Lauren Hill acquired it in 1966. Hill died in 2005, and her children Glenda Rankin, Dianne Sharman, Arlin Wayne and Harvey Hill offered it to the Kern County Museum Authority Board. Planning for its relocation to the museum has been going on since 2007, and fund-raising continues to pay for the move and restoration. A pancake breakfast fund-raiser for $5 a person, sponsored by the Kern County Museum Foundation, will take place from 7-10 a.m. on April 20 at the museum, 3801 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, following completion of the move. There will also be an opportunity drawing for prizes.
More information can be found at, http://www.movethishouse.or...