House on Wheels: Hodson’s Journey to a New Home

Reported by Audrey Grice

Photographed by Luci Lettau

Students returning to George Fox University (GFU) after the 2024 summer break were greeted by an unusual sight near the Winter Apartments: a historic house elevated about four feet off the ground on wood planks and set on wheels. This structure, the Hodson House, previously stood at 314 N Meridian Road.  

Built in 1896 by local mortician and developer Charles A. Hodson, the house features late 19th-century Victorian architecture, according to the Newberg Historic Homes Guide. Most recently, it served as GFU’s Campus Public Safety Office.  

The university sold the Hodson House to Newberg resident Doug Peterson during the summer of 2024 to make way for parking lot expansion projects. Peterson saw potential in the house. 

“I happened to have a piece [of land] we were going to build something on and thought that house would look really good on that property,” Peterson said.  

Initially, the house was moved to the dead-end lot near Winter Apartments as a temporary stop before being transported to its new location. However, logistical challenges arose. “We had a lot of trouble getting the right of way to move it across the highway,” Peterson explained. “Coordinating everything took four months.”  

On Nov. 10, at 7:30 a.m., the moving process began but was halted due to complications with internet cables. The Hodson House remained in its temporary spot. “I’m convinced that house is not going to move,” Peterson said, though he remains determined to relocate it. A second attempt is scheduled for Dec. 8  

As for the house’s future, Peterson remains undecided. “I’m open to discussion,” he said. “It’s a blank slate.”  

Despite the challenges, Peterson is committed to preserving the building’s legacy. “We’re here to save a house,” he said. Whatever its purpose, the Hodson House will continue to carry its historical significance into its next chapter.