Slow and steady the historic 1846 Blodgett House in Downers Grove began its move from 812 Randall St. to Downers Grove Park District Museum campus at 831 Maple Ave. on Monday.

Spectators and members of the Downers Grove Heritage Preservation Corp., which owns the home, set up chairs and blankets to watch the moving process.

On Tuesday, the home was scheduled to be turned 180 degrees so it  faces Maple Avenue.

The home then will hover above the new location while the foundation is poured and sets. The target date to lower the home is Monday, May 12.

Greg Bedalov, a member of the Blodgett House on the Move group, said although the house is traveling a relatively short distance, the move is significant.

“It’s not a long journey, but it’s a historic one,” Bedalov said.

Bedalov said once the move is complete the home will have traveled several hundred yards.

According to the 1846 Blodgett House Web site, Israel and Avis Blodgett arrived in Downers Grove in 1836 and lived in the house. Beginning in 1846, the Blodgett’s home was used as a stopover as part of the Underground Railroad system slaves traveled in order to become free.