Historic house waiting on wheels to move from Barrington
A 19th-century house is sitting on wheels in a Barrington church parking lot awaiting a final move to a neighboring village in an effort to preserve it.
Work to convert the former Wool Street Grill and Sports Bar into Moretti's Ristorante and Pizzeria necessitated the historic house's relocation. The house at 118 Wool St., which dates back to the 1870s, was towed across the street about two weeks ago to the parking lot of First Church of Christ, Scientist.
Restaurateur Mark Hoffmann bought the house and neighboring land for Moretti's parking. Instead of razing the house, Hoffmann donated it to Barrington Hills documentary filmmaker Jeff Baustert, who plans to move it to his family's property for use as a guesthouse.
But after two planned moving dates in June and July fell through, Hoffmann now needs the land to build the Moretti's lot. That led to the 19th-century house going across the street.
Hoffmann said the effort to preserve the historic structure has set back his original timetable to open Moretti's within the next month or so. He said he'd have to delay the debut until 2018 if the Barrington eatery can't open before the winter holidays.
“It was unfortunate my opening got pushed back, but it was for a good cause,” said Hoffmann, vice president and owner of Ala Carte Entertainment.
Greg Summers, Barrington's director of development services, said Baustert needs to acquire several permits before the house can be towed to Barrington Hills. Affected entities that must sign off on the move include Canadian National Railway, ComEd, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Comcast Corp.
Baustert, who was unavailable for comment, has until Sept. 25 to move the house or it will be demolished, under his deal with the church. The estimated 7½-hour, 3-mile trek to Barrington Hills would begin about 5 a.m. on a Sunday, the lightest traffic day of the week.
As for the new Barrington Moretti's near the village's Metra station, Hoffmann said extensive work must be done to the interior of the structure at 128 Wool St. before the restaurant is ready to open.
The building he's taking over dates back to about 1865, according to the Barrington Area Historical Society. Hoffman said its integrity will be preserved.
“I'm not really doing anything to change the outside of the building,” he said.