Historic Holly Depot Relocation

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Holly, MI / December 2025

When plans for site improvements in Holly required relocating a long‑standing depot, structural moving offered a way to protect the town’s heritage. Wolfe House & Building Movers was contracted to relocate the circa-1885, 35′ x 81′ railroad depot, a structure that had served the community for generations and remained one of its most recognizable historic features.

The brick depot was relocated without its floor system, requiring precise stabilization for the transport. Working within the constrained area between two railroad tracks, Wolfe installed exterior bracing and a steel beam support system beneath the building. Wolfe lifted the depot using a unified hydraulic jacking system, then placed Buckingham dollies under the building and drove it 650 feet forward to the new location closer to the street. At the new site, Wolfe pulled alongside the new foundation and drove the depot across steel ramps into position over the walls.

The successful relocation allowed Holly to preserve an important piece of its railroad history while continuing to move forward with its broader site plans. The depot stands ready for its next chapter, protected and stabilized in a location where it can continue to serve the community for years to come.