The house at 59 Alfred Street was built between 1870 and 1873 for wealthy land speculator William H. Craig. In January 1875, Craig sold the property to William Ker Muir, a Scottish-born railroad executive who managed the Canada Southern Railway and became a notable figure in Detroit’s railroad and business circles. Shortly thereafter, prominent Detroit attorney and public official Elisha Taylor moved into the home. Widely respected for his legal skill and integrity, Taylor operated the firm Taylor & Taylor with his son, Dewitt H. Taylor. Elisha Taylor lived in the house until his death at age 90 in August 1906, and his son remained there until his passing in October 1927.

By the 1970s, the house had fallen into poor condition, as seen in a 1973 photograph. In the early 1980s, it was purchased and restored by Michael Farrell, a professor of art history. Today, the property is still listed as the home of Art House Lectures & Tours Inc., although its website appears inactive in January 2026. A fine example of Victorian craftsmanship, the house reflects the era when Alfred Street ranked among Detroit’s most prestigious residential addresses.