in 1972, the last owners of the property, the coutts-hallmark greeting cards company, wanted to demolish the house to expand its parking lot. prior to demolition the company offered the house to anyone who could remove it from the property. a professional association of trial lawyers known as the advocates society, launched a campaign to save the building. they eventually secured the site at the northwest corner of university avenue and queen street west, south of the canada life building (formerly site of three buildings at the corner including united clothing store). with assistance from maintenance trucks of the toronto transit commission, the home was moved northwest from adelaide street to the north side of queen street west, between university avenue and simcoe street on march 30, 1972. the move was a major spectacle, and attracted a large crowd as it closed several downtown streets. her majesty queen elizabeth, the queen mother opened the fully restored structure on june 28, 1974.