The Baird House (1885)
307 Southeast Seventh Street
Gainesville, Florida
An impressive three-story structure with a striking mansard roof and long Italianate windows, this house exemplifies French Second Empire architecture style. The tall frontal tower, ornate moldings and pilasters add significantly to its period charm. Emmet Baird, president of Standard Crate Company and owner of the Baird Opera House, purchased the house in 1900, and it remained in his family until the 1950's. Emmet and his brother Eberle established Baird Hardware, one of the largest wholesale stores in Florida, as well as several sawmills. In the 1990's, the house was purchased by Joe and Cindy Montalto, who restored it and converted it to a bed-and-breakfast establishment.
Text adapted from _Historic Gainesville, A Tour Guide to the Past_, Ben Pickard, ed., Historic Gainesville, Inc., Gainesville, FL, 1991, 48 pp. . Copyright by Historic Gainesville, Inc.
