Lobdell Annex Relocation History
Archival Photos Document 1995 Move of Lobdell Annex to Final North Salem Site
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A small but historically rich building in North Salem, New York, made its third and final journey in 1995 — sliding 200 feet down Titicus Road to its permanent home. The Journal News captured the move in photos that now offer a rare look at how communities preserve their past.
The Lobdell annex once served as a store, a post office, and the town courthouse. Workers from Davis Brothers Building Movers relocated it to join Delancey Hall and the Lobdell House, reuniting several pieces of North Salem's local history in one spot, according to The Times Herald.
A Building That Served Three Different Purposes
The Lobdell annex was no ordinary structure. At different points in its life, it housed a general store, a post office, and the town courthouse. Few small-town buildings can claim that range of public roles. The building was originally owned by the Lobdell family, a name tied closely to North Salem's early history, according to The Times Herald.
By 1995, the annex was ready for a new chapter. Rather than tear it down, the town chose to move it. That decision set the stage for one of North Salem's more unusual preservation efforts.
Davis Brothers Moving Crew Tackled the 200-Foot Shift
Workers from Davis Brothers Building Movers carried out the relocation. Moving a historic building, even just 200 feet, takes careful planning. The crew had to keep the structure intact while shifting it along Titicus Road, Utica Observer-Dispatch reported.
Archival photos from The Journal News show the building mid-move, lifted and carried to its new position. The images give a clear sense of the scale and detail involved in moving an old wooden structure without damaging it.
Annex Joins Delancey Hall and Lobdell House on Titicus Road
The move placed the annex alongside two other landmark buildings — Delancey Hall and the Lobdell House. Together, the three structures form a small cluster of preserved history on Titicus Road. The grouping helps tell the story of North Salem's development over many decades, according to The Times Herald.
For a town with deep roots in Westchester County, keeping these buildings in one place matters. It gives residents and visitors a physical connection to the community's past rather than relying only on records or photos.
Archival Photos Bring the 1995 Move Back to Life
Lohud and Utica Observer-Dispatch both shared the archival photos, giving readers a chance to see the move as it happened nearly 30 years ago. The images document workers, equipment, and the building itself in transit — a snapshot of preservation in action.
Photos like these are rare. They show not just the result of a preservation effort but the hard, hands-on work behind it. The Lobdell annex move stands as an example of how small towns protect what makes them unique.
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