or

By signing in, I accept the Rebuildetroit.com Terms of Use.

Agent Registration

Find Your Agent Profile

Agent Registration

Category: Almon Clother Varney

The Armon J. Fair House — 650 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201

Posted on by Expert

Constructed by lumberman Armon J. Fair and designed by the respected late-nineteenth-century architect Almon C. Varney in 1882, the Armon J. Fair House at 650 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201 is one of the West Canfield Historic District’s most architecturally rich old Detroit residences still standing today – a model of expressive Victorian architecture.

Once completed, Fair occupied the home himself for a few years before selling it to John M. Gage in 1885, and by 1892 it would be occupied by James Nall, a prolific real estate professional and furniture tycoon in Detroit’s quickly expanding commercial landscape during the 1890s.

As for later occupants, the Almon C. Varney residence at 650 W Canfield St continued to attract the attention of well-to-do Detroiters within the city’s social and business circles, further solidifying its reputation as a desirable address for Detroit’s upwardly mobile class.

With its late-nineteenth-century construction date, quality craftsmanship, impressive architectural pedigree, and noteworthy ownership history, the Armon J. Fair House remains a cornerstone of the West Canfield Historic District and the succession of residents whose influence shaped Detroit’s professional, commercial, and social elite.

The George Prentiss House — 662 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201

Posted on by Expert

One of the West Canfield Historic District’s most sophisticated and eye-catching mansard-roofed homes, the George Prentiss House at 662 W Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48201 (designed by architect Almon C. Varney in 1884) reflects both the architectural ambition of the era and its second Empire styling and the prominence of its first owner: Detroit lumberman and landowner, George Prentiss.

In fact, Prentiss was so important to the West Canfield District that a street was named after him (Prentiss Street) thanks to his decision to construct his property in the area in its earliest days. 

As for the 662 W Canfield St home, Prentiss occupied it until 1889, at which point he sold it to James C. McCaul — another key player in Detroit’s early lumber economy as Secretary of Alger, Smith & Company (one of Detroit’s most powerful lumber firms of the age) and an auditor for the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena Railroad Company.

James C. McCaul occupied the 662 West Canfield residence well into the early 1900s, reinforcing its close ties to Detroit’s early industrial boom years.

Today, the George Prentiss House remains a core part of West Canfield’s historic legacy – a finely preserved testament to Detroit’s early lumber wealth, railroad expansion years, and the master craftsmanship of Almon C. Varney.

Detroit Architects: Almon Clother Varney (March 28, 1849 – January 8, 1930)

Posted on by Expert

Almon Clother Varney (March 28, 1849 – January 8, 1930) was a Detroit-based architect who specialized in Queen Anne, Victorian, and Romanesque styles, a hybrid architect who worked independently and through his firm A. C. Varney & Winter in the late 19th – early 20th century.

Best known for commissioning Detroit’s very first apartment building (the Varney Apartments), Varney also designed a wide variety of factories, offices, hotels, and private residences across the state of Michigan, including the El Moore building and numerous distinguished properties in West Canfield, one of Detroit’s earliest living historic neighborhoods. 

Author of the book “Our Homes and Their Adornments” in 1883 (a guide for building and decorating homes), the vast majority of his work emerged at a time when professionals like lawyers, merchants, and industrial pioneers were defining the city’s upper class and seeking homes that conveyed abundance and artistry.

Varney’s design hallmarks include:

  • Queen Anne massing
  • A variety of different roof forms
  • Stately brick and stone ornamentation
  • Spacious porches
  • Intricate window detailing

Utilizing these techniques, he managed to capture the style and optimism sweeping across Detroit in its early days – the aesthetic of a city on the verge of becoming the world’s foremost automotive giant. 

This is clearly documented within his West Canfield Historic District commissions, which include:

  • The Harry B. Parker House at 669 W. Canfield St.
  • The George Prentiss House at 662 W. Canfield St.

And the Armon J. Fair House at 650 W. Canfield St – one of the best living examples reflecting Varney’s picture-perfect proportions, rich architectural detail, and balanced façades.

Built for lumberman Armon J. Fair, the home quickly became part of Detroit’s social fabric, later occupied by real estate and business leaders including John M. Gage, James Nall, Thomas Murphy, and Duncan Stewart.