History and architecture
This handsome residence was erected between 1666 and 1688 for James Anthony Bailey, partner in the famed Barnum & Bailey Circus. Samuel B. Reed, the architect for the house, combined structural and decorative elements associated primarily with the Romanesque Revival style to create a powerful residential design befitting a man of Mr. Bailey's position. Born in Detroit in 1847, Bailey became connected with the circus as a very young man and rapidly developed his superb showmanship. He founded his own circus in 1872 and formed a partnership with Phineas T. Barnum in 1881, assuming major managerial responsibilities. He was known as a kind man and one who believed in giving his public the best.
The house is located in a neighborhood which was largely rural until the 1880s, the decade during which the Bailey residence was erected. Although much of the area today is dominated by apartment buildings, the survival of this house and other neighboring buildings of the same period help to retain a pleasant 19th century residential atmosphere.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.