F.H. Miller House, Davenport, Iowa
The F.H. Miller House is a residential building in Davenport, Iowa, constructed in the Renaissance Revival style with red brick facades and ornamental stone details. The structure features five sections across the front with a centered door, Italianate windows, and decorative brackets beneath the roofline.
Built in 1871, the house was named after Frank H. Miller, a wholesale grocer who lost his fortune and sold it in a sheriff's sale. The Catholic Diocese of Davenport purchased the building in 1907 and used it as the residence for Bishops James Davis and Henry Rohlman.
The house served as a bishop's residence and remains connected to the Catholic Diocese of Davenport's history. Its role in establishing the first Carmelite Monastery in the Midwest reflects its importance to the local religious community and how the building shaped spiritual life in the area.
The house can be admired from the street as it is not open to the public as a museum, though its exterior displays the craftsmanship details of its era. Current owners maintain the original style and furnishings while operating it as an event venue and vacation rental.
The original design included a belvedere and gambrel roof with dormers that no longer exist, revealing how buildings change over time. Its transformation from private home to bishop's residence, monastery, and now inn reflects the evolving needs and history of Davenport throughout more than a century.
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