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Portrait of Monsignor Francis X Prefontaine, ca. 1868
Father Francis X. Prefontaine (1838-1909) was born in Quebec and arrived in Seattle in 1867. He was the city's first resident priest and built Seattle's first Roman Catholic church, Our Lady of Good Help, located on Third Avenue and Washington Street. In 1877, he bought a soap factory and this became the site of the Sisters of Providence first hospital at Fifth Avenue and Madison Street. The first school of the Sisters of Holy Names was established on land owned by Prefontaine at Second Avenue and Seneca Street. Father Prefontaine's estate left some money in the bequest to construct a public fountain which remains today in the little triangle on Third Avenue and Yesler Way. The artist of this portrait is unknown.
ID Number: 1953.360
Date: Circa 1868
Physical Description: 1 Painting; charcoal, chalk, board; 19.7 in.H x 15.7 in.W, 29.7 in.H x 25.9 in.W
Credit: MOHAI, 1953.360