Exploring West Liberty History: George F. Bailey

Exploring West Liberty History: George F. Bailey. The George Bailey House #2. An 1875 drawing of George Bailey’s house shows some details such as the sidewalks and iron fencing that might have been embellishments. However, the style and structure of the house is presumed accurate and has been a source used by the Historical Society when deciding how to reveal the history of this building., The colors of the window trim and shutters are based on scientific paint analysis. Because the original front door no longer exists, the reproduction color made by students from Cliff Park High School in Springfield, Ohio was painted with a color commonly used for front doors in the 19th century., This portrait of Maryland-born George Bailey depicts him as a young man around 1872 when he came to West Liberty. Trained as a carpenter, Bailey set up a shop making barrels. He served in Company G, 132nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. Later he practiced law and held many public offices including mayor, justice of the peace, township trustee, and member of the city council. He was influential in organizing and rebuilding the businesses destroyed in the fire of 1880., George Bailey’s diaries offer a vivid and detailed vision of life in West Liberty. Theyare one of many sources used by the Historical Society to plan this community museum, the Bailey House History Center., George F. Bailey purchased this two-story brick house in 1865 on land comprised of the north sections of lots 16 and 17. He Expanded his property two years later through the purchase of the south sections of the same two lots., The census record from 1870 identifies the Bailey household as George, age 43, and his wife Ann Marie, age 31, his daughter Oleeta, age 13, sons Don, age 12, and Van, age 2, and a 21 year old female servant.