The Bismarck Catholic Diocese is actively seeking to lease or rent its historic C.B. Little House, located just south of the Center for Pastoral Ministry at 520 N. Washington St.

The diocese is not selling the house because it is too much a part of the history of the diocese, said diocesan chancellor Joel Melarvie.

In recent years, the building housed several diocesan offices, including vocations, family ministry, catechesis, social concerns and education. The offices of social concerns and education were closed during a recent reorganization; the others have been moved to the Center for Pastoral Ministry.

Zoning is a concern, Melarvie said.

"Unless we can do something with the property compatible with the church as well as the neighborhood, our fear is that we can't afford to maintain the building; it would eventually fall into disrepair."

The Little House was built beginning in June 1902 for C.B. Little, attorney, judge, banker, state senator and inspector general of the citizen soldiery of the state, and his wife, Caroline.

A stone mason was brought in from Sweden to work on the home; the remainder of the work was done by prisoners from the state penitentiary. The house featured South American mahogany throughout, and was richly furnished for the Little family.

The house originally contained a library, living and dining rooms, kitchen, pantry and butler's pantry on the first floor, bedrooms and a marble bath on the second floor, and servants' quarters on the third.

Little lived in the home until about 1940. After he died in 1942 at the age of 85, the home was purchased by the diocese and became the home of the Benedictine Sisters until Annunciation Priory was completed and the Center for Pastoral Ministry built just north of the house.