The Partnership House History

Partnership house, the home of David Baird, is located on a portion of the original 228-acre tract of land that his grandfather, William Baird, purchased in 1785 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. David’s Father, Zebulum, often spoke of the fear of Native Americans who lived all around them. Although fired upon by the surrounding tribes, he lived to see the wilderness become farmland. After clearing the land for farming and living in a log cabin along the river for several years, David built Partnership House in 1830 from sun dried bricks laid on a stone foundation. In 1838 the first tobacco was grown on this farm. Two tobacco sheds have been preserved and remain standing. Over the years, pieces of the farm were sold, significantly diminishing the original tract. In 1952, Betty Baird Schantz purchased the home and made it her mission to put the family farm back together. She was successful in obtaining the original tract of land plus additional lands. In 1990, Betty decided to open her historic home to others.