Fife, Harry E., House
Also known as: Beck Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 at 606 McKinley Avenue SW in Canton, this two-and-a-half-story Shingle style house was designed by Guy Tilden for Harry E. Fife upon his marriage. It has a frame structure with wood shingle walls, a gable roof with shingles, and a brick foundation. A full front porch with Doric columns leads to a recessed entrance with double doors. A three-faced tower dormer with a conical cap sits beside two other dormers, and the roof is asymmetrically sloped. Inside, decorative oak and cherry woodwork, a large stained glass window and beveled glass windows survive. A garage with Flemish gables and bull's-eye windows stands on the lot. Tilden was Canton's most prolific architect, credited with more than 50 buildings, most of which have been demolished. This house is the most intact private residence he designed that remains in the city, and it has stayed in one family since it was built. It now sits at the edge of downtown's commercial district.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Guy Tilden as Canton's most important and prolific architect, with over 50 buildings in the city, most now demolished. This house is the most intact private residence by Tilden still standing in Canton. It was built for Harry E. Fife upon his marriage and has stayed in the same family since construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001196, listed July 21, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 606 McKinley Ave. SW, Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | July 21, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001196 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Guy Tilden (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Shingle |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single residence; interior in excellent condition and exterior in good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.79552, -81.37927 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001196.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5668533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.