Cyrus Kinne Porter

Cyrus Kinne Porter
Born	1828 Cicero, New York
Died	January 30, 1910 (aged 82) Ransomville, New York
Nationality	American
Occupation	Architect
Children	5
Practice	Porter & Turner (1855-1856), Wilcox & Porter (1865-1874), Porter & Watkins (1874), Porter & Percival (1880-1883), and Porter & Son (1888-1910)

Cyrus Kinne Porter (1828 - January 30, 1910) was a prominent architect in Buffalo, New York during the Victorian era, known for the many churches he designed throughout the city of Buffalo.

Biography

Porter was born in Cicero, New York in 1828 and was orphaned at age 17 when he learned the trade of a joiner. He studied architectural drawing, and became an accomplished draftsman. In 1853, he became employed as a draftsman for the Chicago Water Works, then from 1855-1856 ran an architectural office in Brantford, Ontario with partner John Turner (1807–1887). In 1865, Porter moved to Buffalo, entering into partnership with H. M. Wilcox as Wilcox & Porter, and designing buildings including the Ovid Insane Asylum and Normal schools at Fredonia, Cortland, and Potsdam. He subsequently designed a large number of buildings in Buffalo under various partnerships including Porter and Watkins (1874), Porter and Percival (1880–1883), and Porter and Son (1888–1910).

Prominent works

Disciples of Christ Church / Richmond Avenue Church of Christ (1886)

Some of his best-known works in Buffalo are:

• The American Block
• The Coal and Iron Exchange (before 1883, now demolished)
• The Buffalo Cyclorama Building (1888)
• The Builders' Exchange
• Trinity Church on Delaware Avenue (1886)
• The Church of the Holy Name (1904)
• St. Patrick's Church
• The Disciples of Christ Church
• Richmond Avenue Church of Christ (1886)
• The William Hengerer Company store (1904 with 2 story addition in 1910)

Personal life

Porter had two sons Jesse R. Porter and Cyrus K. Porter; and three daughters, Edna M. Porter, Hermoine T. Porter and Minnie K. Porter.^[1] Two of his children went on to become architects with his son, Jesse, becoming his partner. Jesse designed the Plymouth Avenue Methodist Church his daughter Edna studied architecture at Cornell University, having graduated from Buffalo High School in 1881.^[2]

References

1. Staff (January 31, 1910). "Designed Many of Buffalo's Largest Business Buildings. Trinity Church, Builders' Exchange and William Hengerer Store Among Many in Whose Erection Cyrus K. Porter Had a Hand". Buffalo Evening News.
2. LaChiusa, Chuck. "Cyrus K. Porter". buffaloah.com. Buffalo Architecture and History. Retrieved 1 March 2016.

External links

• Cyrus Kinne Porter in Buffalo, NY by Christopher Brown
• Buffalo Cyclorama Building