Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is moving a historic Sycamore house to DeKalb. This house was part of the Engh family farm on North Main Street in Sycamore and housed the hired men who worked the farm. The DeKalb County History Center has been housed on this farm for several years. After some time they realized they no longer had a need for the house and looked in to the community for an organization that would be interested in the house. Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County partnered with the DeKalb County History Center to take over the house. The kicker was…they needed to move the house from the History Center campus.

In late 2023, Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County began looking for a lot which would be suitable for the house as well as a family that would partner with Habitat and which the house would be suitable for. After many months both were secured. A lot in DeKalb was found and was donated to Habitat.

Much preparation has gone into getting the house ready to move, including removing the porch and the roof, which was done by volunteers including a group of volunteers from a local insurance agency, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley, and general Habitat volunteers. During that time the foundation was prepared on the lot in DeKalb where the house will be placed.

On Tuesday, October 22, sometime between 9am and 10am, the house will begin the very slow move from Sycamore to DeKalb. The route will go north on North Main Street in Sycamore, west and south on Peace Road in DeKalb County, and east on Pleasant Street in DeKalb. The final location of the house will be in the 800 block of Pleasant Street.

We are encouraging the community to come out and help us cheer on the house move and line Pleasant Street as we welcome home the house to DeKalb.