Cyrus Kinne Porter

Who was Cyrus Kinne Porter?

Cyrus Kinne Porter was a prominent architect in Buffalo, New York.

Porter was born in Cicero, New York. Orphaned at age 17, he learn the trade of a joiner, 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. 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, Porter and Percival, and Porter and Son.

Some of his best-known works in Buffalo are the American Block, the Coal and Iron Exchange, the Buffalo Cyclorama Building, the Builders' Exchange, Trinity Church on Delaware avenue, the Church of the Holy Name, St. Patrick's Church, the Disciples of Christ Church / Richmond Avenue Church of Christ, and the William Hengerer Company store.