Bishop Portier House, Historic residence on Conti Street, Mobile, United States.
The Bishop Portier House is a one-and-a-half-story building with a square floor plan and a central hallway that runs from front to rear. The facade is decorated with three ornate dormers featuring classical details, while the center entrance displays pilasters, an entablature, a transom, and side lights.
The house was built in 1834 by architect Claude Beroujon and served as the residence of Michael Portier, the first Roman Catholic bishop of Mobile, until 1859. The structure was created during a time when Mobile was becoming an important port and religious center.
The house is named for Michael Portier, Mobile's first Roman Catholic bishop, who lived here from 1834 until his death in 1859. From 1870 to 1877 the northwest corner room on the second floor was occupied by Fr. Abram Ryan, known as the poet-priest of the South. The building is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile.
The building sits on Conti Street across from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and overlooks Cathedral Square. Its central location in Mobile's downtown makes it easy to visit along with other historic sites nearby.
The house was designed by Claude Beroujon, a seminarian architect and nephew of Bishop Portier. From 1870 to 1877 the northwest corner room on the second floor was occupied by Fr. Abram Ryan, known as the poet-priest of the South. The archdiocese restored the residence in 1958 and again in 2007.
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