According to Thomas R. Butchko, the Leary family considered two plans by Barber to expand an existing house. They selected Design No. 1 in Barber’s Cottage Souvenir, Number 2 (1891). A drawing by Barber for “Change of Residence for Mrs. William Leary” is reproduced in Butchko, Edenton: An Architectural Portrait, as is the agreement of 1897 between local builder Theo Ralph and Mrs. Emma W. (William J.) Leary, which described every component and stated that the work was to be done according to “plans and specifications sent out by Geo. F. Barber & Co. of Knoxville, Tennessee.” It made reference to reuse of some materials from the previous house, and also to certain features of the new house “exactly like” Mrs. Dixon’s, indicating that the Dixon-Powell House may have been by Barber and/or Ralph as well.