Story:
As a 1938 Special Bulletin published by Michigan State University describes... “(it is) also a popular home garden variety father north. Developed by D.M. Ferry & Co. by selection from a crop grown from what was probably Early Leavenworth received from G. Rozendal of Leavenworth, Kans., in 1907. It was introduced in 1909 as Early Detroit."
From Tatiana’s TOMATObase:
Very old commercial variety, offered in 1916 Livingston's Seed catalog. The description from 1916 Livingston's Seed Catalog says: "A very productive, early purple sort, uniform in size of fruit, free from cracks, and does not blight easily. Fruit large and smooth. Vines vigorous and quite productive. Quality excellent." First offered in the Seed Savers 1995 Yearbook by D. C. Dove, Blacksburg, Virginia (WA DO D), who said it was a common nursery plant around Detroit in 1950s and 60s. SSE TOMATO 419.