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Published October 27, 2012, 12:00 AM

GALLERY: Couple makes home out of schoolhouse


Mary and Mark Pettersen discovered the Twin Butte schoolhouse southeast of Williston while taking a Sunday drive on Oct. 16, 2011. They tracked down property owner Lyle Langseth who said they could have it for free if they moved it. Photo by Mary Pettersen

  • Mary and Mark Pettersen discovered the Twin Butte schoolhouse southeast of Williston while taking a Sunday drive on Oct. 16, 2011. They tracked down property owner Lyle Langseth who said they could have it for free if they moved it. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Workers prepare to remove the steeple on Sept. 22 from the Twin Butte schoolhouse so it can fit below power lines during the move. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Workers remove the steeple from the schoolhouse. “It was very upsetting to me,” recalled Mary Pettersen. “They assured me they’d be able to put it back on.” Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • The Twin Butte No. 1 School is removed from its original foundation on Sept. 25. The school’s first teacher taught in 1912-13 and the school district dissolved in 1950, according to a book by the Williams County Historical Society. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Mark Pettersen, owner of Coates RV in Williston, pretends to lift the schoolhouse. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • On Oct. 9, movers transport the Twin Butte schoolhouse from southeast of Williston to Mark and Mary Pettersens’ property west of Williston. It should have been a 20-mile trip, but they took a 40-mile route to avoid going through town. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Crews from Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative had to lift power lines along the route as the schoolhouse was moved. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • The schoolhouse crosses railroad tracks in Springbrook, N.D. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Mark Pettersen directs traffic as the schoolhouse blocks part of the road while movers work on getting the building across a bridge. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • The schoolhouse gets stuck on a bridge and creates some tense moments. Movers used giant airbags to raise the house enough to clear the guardrail. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • Truck traffic passes as the schoolhouse continues moving after crossing the bridge. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • The schoolhouse nears the three-acre parcel west of Williston the Pettersens purchased for the schoolhouse. Photo by Mary Pettersen
  • The schoolhouse is placed on its new foundation on Oct. 16, exactly a year after Mary Pettersen took her original photo of the school. Photo by Marry Pettersen
  • Crews work on renovating the schoolhouse while the Pettersens’ dog, Max, looks on. Amy Dalrymple/Forum communications
  • Workers remove shingles from the schoolhouse. The structure will get a new roof and windows, but the Pettersens don’t plan to make any structural changes to the building. Amy Dalrymple/Forum Communications
  • Mary and Mark Pettersen hope to move into the schoolhouse this year. They currently live in an apartment above their business. Amy Dalrymple/Forum Communications
  • The writing "Twin Butte School" can still be seen above the door in the schoolhouse. Amy Dalrymple/Forum Communications
  • The steeple of the schoolhouse sits near the building until it can be replaced. Amy Dalrymple/Forum Communications