NEW LONDON, Conn. -- It takes a lot of preparation and planning to move a piece of history, and the Nathan Hale School House is no exception.

Crews in New London moved the 1,200-square-foot school house on Monday to make way for the future.

“It's in a good location,” New London resident Erica Montie said. “At least people will see it when they come through town.”

The 235-year-old building is on the move for the sixth time. But the move on Monday placed that building just 100 feet from its former foundation in downtown New London

“It wasn't very viewable unless you were coming down Bank Street, but people coming off the train, in a lot of cases, they probably didn't know it existed here,” Department of Transportation project manager Brent Church said.

Nathan Hale, who was born in Connecticut and is widely considered America's first spy, was the school's first permanent teacher in the early-1770s

Once the building was moved across Atlantic Street using a bobcat machine to push the structure while it’s attached to beams, work was slated to begin on its own plaza area at its old location on State Street. The plan includes an open-air theater and a life-size whale-tail water fountain.

“You talk to the majority, people who say it'll be the jewel of New London,” said John Green, of Gales Ferry.

Concerns were raised about damage from moving the building, but the Sons of the American Revolution have already thought that through. They said minor cracks in the plaster will be fixed.

“It's just going to be a much better site for the school house,” said Stephen Shaw, of the Sons of the American Revolution. “It'll have a better foundation, and we hope it'll stay here.”

The school house was expected to be on its new foundation by Monday night. It will be hooked up to the city’s gas line, which means it will have heat year round and can stay open during the winter months.