Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm contractor John Dietz talks Tuesday about moving the former Faith United Methodist Church parsonage he recently purchased in Sleepy Eye. The residence was moved a couple blocks, from 108 Water Street S.E. to 416 2nd Avenue S.E. Tuesday. Dietz said he plans to sell the property next year after doing some interior remodeling.

SLEEPY EYE — It was a moving experience in the truest sense of the word.

New Ulm contractor John Dietz recently bought the former Faith United Methodist Church parsonage in Sleepy Eye and had the residence moved a few blocks, from 108 Water St. S.E. to an empty, corner lot located at 416 2nd Ave. S.E. Tuesday.

Prior to moving the house, Dietz said a number of trees on or near the house moving route were trimmed.

On Monday, Sleepy Eye Police issued a no-parking advisory on Water Street S.E./S.W. and Linden Street S.E./S.W. between Second Avenue S.E. and Third Avenue S.W. (T.H.4) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“A house is being moved between these times. The trailer width with the house will not allow for vehicles to be parked on the street,” read the message.

Dietz said he’s hoping for warm weather in the coming weeks, which he said would aid efforts to build a basement under the three bedroom, two bath home built in 1955.

After the moving is done, Dietz said he plans to sand hardwood floors and have some interior painting done in the house.

The house moving was done by Otting House Movers of Lakeville, a company advertised as able to raise buildings, houses, cottages, sheds, barns, machinery, heavy equipment and other structures.

Dietz said Faith United Methodist church leaders told him they plan to build a parking lot where the parsonage was originally located.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.