BAIRD HOUSE

The historic George W. Baird House, 4400 W. 50th St., was previously included in the City's heritage preservation overlay district on Dec. 18, 1978, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on March 27, 1980. In 2002, the Heritage Preservation Board (HPB) recommended re-designation of the Baird House as an Edina Heritage Landmark pursuant to City Code §850.20 (as amended). The property was rezoned under the revised preservation ordinance on 4 February 2003.

The Baird House is featured in several publications about Edina heritage, including William W. Scott and Jeffrey A. Hess' History and Architecture of Edina, Minnesota (City of Edina, 1981), and Deborah Morse-Kahn's Chapters in the City History: Edina (City of Edina, 1998). The property was the focus of an ambitious renovation project in 2002-2003 that included a large addition to the rear of the house. The 2003 Edina Heritage Award was shared by the house's owners, Brad and Arlene Forrest, and their designer, M|A|Peterson.

DESCRIPTION
The historic George W. Baird House is a two-story, red brick, Eastlake style cottage. Viewed from West 50th Street, the house has a striking silhouette, with multiple roof shapes, dormers, a square tower, a large front porch, and tall brick chimneys. The exterior finishes are embellished with stone window trim, transoms, wooden shingle "feathers" in the gables, and belt coursing. The raised front porch features wooden posts and balusters, with a pediment over the entrance.

The property is in an excellent state of preservation, thanks to investments in rehabilitation made by the previous and current owners. The house received a 3,500 square foot addition in 2002-2003, including a garage and living space attached to the rear elevation. The new work is compatible in scale, color, and texture with the original construction and does not detract from the property's historic character when viewed from West 50th Street. The historic property comprises a 1.7 acre site that is surrounded on all sides by suburban residential development. A one-story frame outbuilding, itself an amalgam of different structural elements assembled at different times, is located on the grounds near the house and contributes to the historic character of the property.

HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Built in 1886 for George W. Baird, a prosperous farmer, the house was designed by the prominent Minneapolis architect Charles S. Sedgwick. A well known community landmark, the house was "unquestionably the most imposing residence in nineteenth-century Edina." In its current condition, it is a well preserved specimen of Late Victorian period domestic architecture. Although the National Register documentation suggests that it is not an outstanding example of a Sedgwick-designed Eastlake style house in comparison with other, similar properties in Minnesota, in the context of Edina history the Baird House is a rare and notable example of the style. In addition to reflecting the history of domestic architecture, the house provides a physical record of Edina's rural heritage and is important for its association with George W. Baird. Baird, a native of Pennsylvania, immigrated to Minnesota with his wife Sara in 1857 and purchased a farm in the Edina Mills settlement. An ardent promoter of scientific farming, Baird was a pioneer in livestock breeding and is credited with bringing the first Merino sheep to the state. In 1936, eighty acres of the Baird family farm was platted as part of the Country Club district.

EVALUATION OF LANDMARK ELIGIBILITY
On Sept. 24, 2002, the HPB determined that the Baird House met the Edina Heritage Landmark eligibility criteria as set forth in City Code §850.20 subd. 2, on the basis of its association with important events and its architectural character. The HPB evaluated the significance of the property within the local historic context "The Agricultural Landscape (1851 to 1959)" and "Edina Mills: Agriculture and Rural Life (1857 to 1923)," as outlined in the Edina Historic Context Study (1999) and found that it retained historic integrity of those features necessary to convey its historical and architectural preservation values.