WEST PARIS - A 19th century house admired for its age and architecture was moved from Trap Corner to historic Paris Hill in Paris this week where its new owner plans to make it his home.

Michael Brown of Paris Hill Road purchased the 1½-story house built in the early 1800s to preserve it and save money at the same time, he said.

"I chose the house based on its preservation and history," he explained, and because its age and design blends with the character of the village where it now rests near the top of the hill toward West Paris.

"I think it fits Paris Hill," he said.

The cost of remodeling compared to building a home was another consideration.

"You could reproduce everything in the house," he explained, "but it would be expensive."

Brown, a 40-something who does construction work, will install new wiring, plumbing, heating, insulation and Sheetrock.

The house had to be cut in half to navigate under utility lines so two large steel I-beams were placed in pre-cut holes lengthwise under the second floor.

Then two cranes, one on each side of the house with a cable attached to both I-beams, lifted the top off and placed it on a trailer towed by a heavy truck several miles to Paris Hill on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the first floor was towed to Paris Hill and set on its new foundation.

The move was a joint effort by movers Merry and Sons Inc. of Scarborough and Locke Crane Services of Raymond, N.H. Despite the skill needed for such an operation, members of both companies described the job as relatively easy.

Greg Merry said the difficulty of moving buildings depends on the job site and the building itself. This house, he said, is "very nice" for its age.

Crane operator Jeff Locke described the job as "real easy."