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

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.