The Edward P. Bailey House
Brianne Snyder
The current plaque as presented by the Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
“Edward P. Bailey House”
Built 1885
Second French Empire style house built for Edward P. Bailey (1856-1904), native of Sweden and wife, Annie Empie (1858-1915). Mr. Bailey was president of Wilmington Iron Works and a City Alderman. Queen Anne style facade added in 1905. Residence of the Bailey family until 1934.
Architecture Style
Second French Empire architecture also referred to as Second Empire or Mansard style, was a popular style of architecture in the United States primarily in the 1860s – 1870s. The style originated in France during the reign of Napoleon III, but quickly spread to England and the United States. The mansard roof, named for the French architect Francois Mansart, was reminiscent of 17th-century French architecture. A prominent roof was both functional and aesthetic as it allowed occupants extra space with a fully functional attic. The Second French Empire style was seen as a contemporary “modern” style during the 1860s – 1870s and gained particular popularity throughout the Northeast United States but was seen throughout the country. [1]
In 1905, twenty years after the construction of the Edward P. Bailey house, the Bailey family added a Queen Anne Style façade to the house. [2] Adding a façade to a house means simply updating the front of the house. [3] This façade was added after Mr. Bailey passed away in 1904. Queen Anne-style architecture is known for its abundance of intricate details. The style is named after Queen Anne and follows the ornate styles often showcased in the Renaissance. [4]
[1] Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, “Second Empire/ Mansard Style”,
[2] New Hanover County Digital Collections, “Edward P. Bailey House”,
[3] BFI Finance, “House Facades”
[4] Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, “Queen Anne Style”
Occupants
Edward P. Bailey
Edward P. Bailey, the man for whom the Bailey house is named, was born in Alvesta, Sweden on January 20th, 1856. For reasons unknown, at the age of 13, Edward immigrated to the United States to live with his uncle, John O. Bailey. John, a resident of Wilmington, NC, became Edward’s primary guardian. Edward attended school in Wilmington, but ultimately followed in his uncle’s footsteps and started a career in ironworking. John, an iron worker, had created the company Wilmington Iron Works in 1854, two years before Edward’s birth. The firm initially operated under the name Hart & Bailey, named for John and his associate. The firm changed names several times through the years before settling on the final name Wilmington Iron Works. Edward served as the president of Wilmington Iron Works from 1884 until his death on January 20th, 1904. Along with becoming president of Wilmington Iron Works, Edward married his wife, Ann Eliza Empie, in February of 1884.[1]
In addition to his role as president of Wilmington Iron Works, Edward was fairly active within his community. He was a member of the Wilmington Masonic fraternity and even held a high-ranking position as a Shriner and a Knight Templar. Edward was also a member of various clubs such as the Wilmington Lodge of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, and the Cape Fear Club. In his later years, Edward served as a City Alderman for the Wilmington City Counsel, at the request of many friends and colleagues. Edward was remembered for his kind spirit and his passing left his “hundreds of friends in Wilmington totally unprepared for the shock which carried with the announcement that he was dead.”[2]
Ann Eliza “Annie” Empie Bailey
Ann Eliza “Annie” Empie Bailey was born on August 21st, 1858, in Wilmington, North Carolina to parents Adam G. Empie II and Virginia R. “Jinnie” Gwathmey Empie. Ann was one of nine siblings.[3] Ann’s father, Adam G. Empie II, was known as one of the best lawyers in New Hanover County, and “one of the most distinguished and brilliant members of the North Carolina Bar”.[4] Ann and Edward P. Bailey were married in February of 1884. Together, Ann and Edward had four children, Edward P. Bailey Jr. in 1885, Virginia Empie Bailey Chisolm in 1887, Karin Dahlstrom Bailey in 1892, and Frances Fielding Lewis Bailey Curtzwiler in 1894.[5] After Edward’s passing on Jan 20th, 1904, the house transitioned to Ann’s ownership. On the 1910 census, Ann is listed as the head of household for the Bailey residence, with her children Edward Jr., Virginia, Karin, and Frances as residents.[6] It is unclear when exactly, but sometime after the 1910 census was conducted, Ann moved to Saratoga Springs, NY to be with family. She stayed in Saratoga Springs with family until her death on October 2nd, 1915.[7]
George Everard Kidder
While not mentioned on the official plaque, George Everard Kidder was also a notable resident of the Edward P. Bailey house. George Everard Kidder was born on June 4th, 1887, in Wilmington, North Carolina to parents Lieut George Wilson Kidder and Florence Hill Kidder.[8] George was the president of a company he owned, Cement Products. On February 26th, 1918, George Everard Kidder married Francis Fielding Bailey, the youngest child of Edward and Ann Bailey.[9] Upon marrying Francis, George moved into the residence. On the 1920 census, George is listed as the head of household for the Bailey Residence. Other occupants of the house included his wife, Frances B. Kidder, their son, George E. Kidder Jr., and Frances’s sister, Karin D. Bailey.[10] On the 1930 census, George was still listed as the head of household. Other occupants of the house included his wife, Frances B. Kidder, their son George E. Kidder Jr., and their daughter Aurl E. Kidder.[11] According to the 1934 Wilmington City Directory, George and Frances still occupied the Bailey house.[12] By 1935, however, the family had moved. With this move, the Edward P. Bailey house was no longer in the possession of the Bailey family. On the 1940 census, George is listed as head of household for a residence in Winter Park East. The census also noted that this had become the family’s residence in 1935. Other occupants of the house included his wife, Frances B. Kidder, their son George E. Kidder Jr., and their daughter Aurl E. Kidder.[13]
[1] “Edward P. Bailey”, The Morning Star. March 25, 1904. newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026537/1904-03-25/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Edward+P.+Bailey+EDWARD+P.+BAILEY
[2] The Morning Star, “Edward P. Bailey”.
[3] “Ann Eliza ‘Annie’ Empie Bailey”, Find A Grave Memorial. www.findagrave.com/memorial/34743892/ann_eliza_bailey
[4] The Morning Star, “Edward P. Bailey”.
[5] “Ann Eliza ‘Annie’ Empie Bailey”, Find A Grave Memorial. www.findagrave.com/memorial/34743892/ann_eliza_bailey
[6] Year: 1910; Census Place: Wilmington Ward 4, New Hanover, North Carolina; Roll: T624_1124; Page: 4a; Enumeration District: 0091; FHL microfilm: 1375137
[7] “Ann Eliza ‘Annie’ Empie Bailey”, Find A Grave Memorial. www.findagrave.com/memorial/34743892/ann_eliza_bailey
[8] “George Everard Kidder Sr.” Find A Grave Memorial. www.findagrave.com/memorial/34930997/george_everard_kidder
[9] Fisher, R. H. Biographical sketches of Wilmington citizens. 1929. NC 920 F. East Carolina University Digital Collections.
[10] Year: 1920; Census Place: Wilmington Ward 4, New Hanover, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1312; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 106
[11] Year: 1930; Census Place: Wilmington, New Hanover, North Carolina; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0019; FHL microfilm: 2341444
[12] Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
[13] Year: 1940; Census Place: Winter Park-East Wilmington, New Hanover, North Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-02950; Page: 61B; Enumeration District: 65-9
Conclusion
The official plaque provided by the Wilmington Historic Foundation provides a basic understanding of the house but does not provide a decent amount of information. Granted, some of the information that could have been mentioned was not included in the initial plaque application in 1984. For example, the official plaque states that Edward passed in 1904, but does not mention who the house is left to. The plaque also states that Ann passed in 1915, but not who the house is left to after her passing. The plaque does, however, state that the home remained in the Bailey family until 1934. George Everard Kidder is listed as the head of household for the residence according to the 1920 census, but his name and his relationship to the Bailey family are not mentioned anywhere on the plaque or the plaque application. Ann is listed as the head of household according to the 1910 census but passed away in 1915 in Saratoga, NY. George Everard Kidder married Frances Fielding Bailey in 1918. Who possessed the home for the three years between Ann’s passing and Frances and George’s marriage?
It is also mentioned that the house had a Queen Anne style façade added in 1905, but no information is given to elaborate on who authorized the renovation or why. Did Ann order the renovation? Did one of the children order the renovation? Was the renovation purely aesthetic, or was there a practical reason for the update? The renovation occurred the year after Edward passed. Is that a coincidence, or was there a reason behind the renovation occurring after Edward’s passing?
While the plaque provides a base timeline of events for the residence, it unfortunately does not relay the full timeline. While it is impractical to fit every event into fourteen lines of text, the plaque has eight and a half lines left unutilized. If it was notable enough to mention that the Bailey residence remained in the Bailey family until 1934 then George Everard Kidder should be mentioned as well as he was the head of household from approximately 1920 until 1934 when the family moved.
