F.H. Miller House
Encyclopedia
The F. H. Miller House, located in the central part of Davenport, Iowa
, United States
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The building houses the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations for Saint Ambrose University
and is called Alumni House.
for $26,500 and it became the residence and headquarters for the diocese’s bishop, James J. Davis
. Previous bishops had resided at the Antoine LeClaire House
in Davenport. Davis moved into the Miller House on June 24, and a desk was placed in the corner of the living room for the Rev. Joseph P. Stahl, who served as both chancellor
and secretary to the bishop. Davis established the first Carmelite Monastery
in the Midwest adjacent to the home in 1911. Davis continued to live in the residence until his death in 1926. His successor, Henry P. Rohlman
lived in the house until the 1940s when it became the novitiate
for the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa
. After the sisters moved out the house was divided into apartments.
Around 1990 the house was completely renovated and it was turned into a bed and breakfast
called the Bishop’s House Inn, which was named after the two bishops who had made it their home. Saint Ambrose University bought the bed and breakfast in 1995 and operated it until May, 2008. At that time the building was repurposed to hold private and public functions on the ground floor, and office space on the upper floors.
that wraps around the ground floor of the building. The three-story structure has elaborate bracketed cornices, and was originally topped with a belvedere
. The house has five bays across the front with a door in the center bay. It was one of the first Italianate houses in Davenport that utilized windows shapes other than the rectangle.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The building houses the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations for Saint Ambrose University
Saint Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It is located in a residential area of Davenport, Iowa.-History:...
and is called Alumni House.
History
The house was built by Frank H. Miller in 1871. In 1907 the house was purchased by the Catholic Diocese of DavenportRoman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
for $26,500 and it became the residence and headquarters for the diocese’s bishop, James J. Davis
James J. Davis (Catholic bishop)
James J. Davis was a 20th-century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1906 to 1926.-Early life and ministry:...
. Previous bishops had resided at the Antoine LeClaire House
Antoine LeClaire House
The Antoine LeClaire House, located at 630 East 7th Street Davenport, Iowa, United States, is a community center that was built as a private home by one of the founders of city of Davenport. The home was constructed in 1855...
in Davenport. Davis moved into the Miller House on June 24, and a desk was placed in the corner of the living room for the Rev. Joseph P. Stahl, who served as both chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
and secretary to the bishop. Davis established the first Carmelite Monastery
Carmel of Eldridge (Iowa)
Regina Coeli Monastery is an historic building located in Bettendorf, Iowa, United States and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. The building currently houses an addictions rehabilitation facility called The Abbey Center.The Discalced Carmelite nuns who built...
in the Midwest adjacent to the home in 1911. Davis continued to live in the residence until his death in 1926. His successor, Henry P. Rohlman
Henry Rohlman
Henry Patrick Rohlman was a 20th century bishop in the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Davenport from 1927–1944 and as coadjutor archbishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque from 1944-1954.-Early Life & Ministry:Rohlman was born in...
lived in the house until the 1940s when it became the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
for the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
. After the sisters moved out the house was divided into apartments.
Around 1990 the house was completely renovated and it was turned into a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
called the Bishop’s House Inn, which was named after the two bishops who had made it their home. Saint Ambrose University bought the bed and breakfast in 1995 and operated it until May, 2008. At that time the building was repurposed to hold private and public functions on the ground floor, and office space on the upper floors.
Architecture
W.L. Carroll was the architect for the residence that was built in the Italianate style. The house is constructed of red brick and features a porchPorch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
that wraps around the ground floor of the building. The three-story structure has elaborate bracketed cornices, and was originally topped with a belvedere
Belvedere (structure)
Belvedere is an architectural term adopted from Italian , which refers to any architectural structure sited to take advantage of such a view. A belvedere may be built in the upper part of a building so as to command a fine view...
. The house has five bays across the front with a door in the center bay. It was one of the first Italianate houses in Davenport that utilized windows shapes other than the rectangle.