Forget a housewarming party—Alice Blackburn threw a house-moving party in 1948 when she relocated her Hollywood bungalow from the freeway’s path to 2919 St. George Street.

When the single mother’s rented home at 707 Mariposa Avenue was condemned by the City, she purchased it at auction for $2,800 (approximately $35,000 in 2023, with inflation) as well as a 9,500-square-foot empty lot on St. George Street.

But before she would relocate the Craftsman, the enterprising woman decided to go out with a bang—and LIFE magazine went along for the raucous ride.