The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 171

Among dramatic jobs of LaPlante-Adair Company was moving a captured German sub across Chicago's Outer Drive. IT OEfiRre EDS Eaw This Indianapolis firm is engaged nation-wide in the spectacular business of moving buildings and other large objects. It even has moved four entire towns. By JO MIX 0. STEVENS LEMEMBER the head tower and the first to elevate a bridge without interrupting traffic.

One of its more spectacular jobs was moving a captured German submarine from Lake Michigan, across Chicago's Outer Drive, and to the side of the Museum of Science and Industry where it has become permanent exhibit. "That was in 1954," Adair recalls. "They told us we could have 12 hours to get it across the drive. We did it in nine, and there were 15,000 persons watching us at 4 a.m." Moving the sub didn't take long, but like all other major moving jobs, months of preparation went into the moving. It's getting ready that takes the time.

THE TOWNS which Adair's company has transplanted are Shawneetown, I1L; Coldwater, Miss. Osborn, and Sandyville, O. All we re moved because of flood threats. Shawneetown waa moved four miles in 1937. Four hundred buildings were involved, about the same number as at Osborn.

Sandyville had 90 buildings and Coldwater's move in 1941 involved 150 buildings. One of Adair's favorite stories is about the Baptist minister's wife during the Coldwater move. She asked how much she would have to pack and crate. He assured her nothing would be disturbed Inside the house. (Concluded on Page 38) ache the last time your family moved? Do you recall all the crating and packing: and loading-? The million-and-one details? All the persons and companies you had to notify? Imagine, if you can, those problems involved when a town of more than 1,000 persons decides to pull up stakes and move several miles.

And throw in all the churches, businesses, utilities and a big water tank for good measure. Those are problems which have been solved not once, but four times, by Kenneth F. Adair, president and general manager of LaPlante-Adair Company, Indianapolis moving contractors. Adair's firm also was the first one to move a water Tnis is a close-up of operations when the German submarine was moved. Adair raises his hand as the signal to start the move.

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