This house was built for George Prentis, a lumberman and land owner, and for whom Prentis Street was named. The home was built in 1884, and he lived here until 1889, when James C. McCaul purchased the house.

McCaul was the secretary of the Detroit lumber company Alger, Smith and Co. and auditor of the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena Railroad Co. He lived at this address until the early part of the 1900s, when he passed away.