Starting on the south side of Canfield Avenue West, the first house closest to Second Boulevard, 627, was owned by Colin Fox, Division Superintendent of Western Telegraph. He was the first owner in 1874.
Subsequently, in 1880, Alexander McVittie bought the former Colin Fox residence. Mr. McVittie was President of the Detroit Ship Building Company when he passed away in 1909. Mr. McVittie, grandfather of Mrs. Stanley S. Kresge of Detroit, entertained Mrs. Kresge and her family when she, as a small child, visited her grandparents in their lovely home on Sundays.
After Mr. McVittie's death, Kenneth M. Anderson, son-in-law of Mr. McVittie and Treasurer and Manager of the Kenneth M. Anderson Company, resided here until 1915, when the home was sold.
In 1969, the Henry G. Groehns rehabilitated and made this beautiful, old, historic home their residence. Mr. Groehn was an attorney with offices in the downtown area.
From the 1960s to the early 2000s, it was the home of Beulah Groehn Croxford who organized the Canfield West-Wayne Preservation Association, created to enable the restoration and preservation of the block's homes.
Here's a list of houses lined up on the south side of W. Canfield between 2nd Ave. and 3rd Ave.. They can also be found on Historic Detroit:
William Wallace Washburn House