The Bailey House, VALEVIEW (1797 - Present)
Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. This week’s historical spotlight takes us just east of Monroe Center to the northwest corner property at the intersection of Wheeler and Old Tannery Roads. There, perched on the eastern face of Moose Hill, we find the Bailey House, also known as VALEVIEW. An early photograph of the house can be seen in our first supporting image; its date and name are displayed on the shelter covering the well. Surely you’ve noticed it in your travels. It’s the lovely green house immediately adjacent to the south of the Barn Hill · East Village Schoolhouse. Our earliest residential map of Monroe from 1856 associates the property with James French, but the history of the home goes back over a half century earlier. Are you ready to learn some new Monroe history? Let’s head on over east of the Green and have a closer look.
James French (1789-1884) ran Hezekiah Bailey’s old leather tannery at 150 Old Tannery Road. Now you know how the road got its name. There were said to have been several buildings on the site: a bark grinding mill, dressing house, and finishing rooms. The byproducts of the tannery, such as animal horns, were sold for comb and button making, and the animal hair was sold off to be blended with plaster to strengthen it. Boots were also made there. The annual product inventory in 1860 lists 50 sides of bridle leather valued at $525.00 and 12-1/2 dozen calfskins worth $375.00. A large millstone, believed by some to have once been part of the tannery operation, was found on a neighboring property at 158 Old Tannery Road and was presented to the historical society by the homeowners Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schultz. Today, the millstone stands near the northern property line of the Barn Hill · East Village Schoolhouse.
The French family lived in the home for generations thereafter. One of its most colorful and popular inhabitants was Arthur Wells French (1846-1916). Arthur was a journalist as well as a prolific writer of sentimental songs. He penned nearly 40 of them from 1871 through 1885, and a few were even recorded in the early 20th century. One song in particular from 1883 named “Must we leave the old home, mother?” was surely inspired by his love of the family homestead at Monroe Center. Arthur went by the pen name of Frenchie for his columns published in the Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer newspapers, and covered all the news from Monroe Center and throughout the town. He truly had a gift for writing and his comical and clever delivery set him well apart from his peers. I can’t say for certain, but it’s most likely that Arthur is to credit for naming the family homestead VALEVIEW, the name inspired by the clear view of the rolling valleys to the east that today make up Whitney Farms golf course.
The Bailey House was purchased by the Monroe Historical Society in 1967. It was the first property acquired by the society and was intended to be both a rental property and a living museum to showcase their ever-growing collection of artifacts that reflect our town’s history and agrarian past. The house was eventually sold and today is beautifully maintained in a tastefully expanded form by private owners. For nearly 65 years, the property was believed to be the location of Monroe Center’s first burial ground. The historical society erected a small headstone on the property to commemorate the location. In recent years, the headstone was identified as that of Abel Sanford, a former resident of Redding. It was confirmed that his headstone in Redding had gone missing. The Monroe and Redding historical societies, in collaboration with the homeowners, reunited Abel and his headstone in 2023. The Bailey House property was later excavated for reasons of home improvement and no evidence of an early burial ground was discovered.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s historical spotlight on the Bailey House, VALEVIEW, the former tannery and generational home of the French family. Please share this post with your family and friends, and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich history. Until next time, pay close attention to the names of our roads, as they often have strong ties back to our early history and families.
Regards,
Kevin Daly
Historian, Monroe Historical Society
www.monroecthistory.org
Our Past is Always Present
