Today in Wheeling History: May 5--The cornerstone for the new Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling was blessed (1924).
The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, West Virginia, is the seat of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and home to the city's oldest Catholic parish, dating back to 1822. In 1847, the cathedral was moved to the corner of Eoff and 13th Street and named St. James Cathedral. However, in 1872, in response to the rising devotion to Saint Joseph and the burgeoning labor movement among Catholics in the coal fields, Bishop Richard V. Whelan petitioned Rome to change the title of the cathedral to honor Saint Joseph. The current Lombard Romanesque-style cathedral was built between 1923 and 1926 under the leadership of Bishop John James Swint, who served from 1922 to 1962, replacing the older cathedral damaged by fire in 1923. The cornerstone for the new building was blessed on May 5, 1924. Designed by Pittsburgh architect Edward J. Weber, the cathedral was dedicated on April 21, 1926. The cathedral features a dome inspired by the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, and a colorful interior adorned with murals by Felix B. Lieftuchter, stained glass by George W. Sotter, and intricate decorations in the Medieval Byzantine style. The cathedral has undergone several renovations and restorations, notably in 1973 under Bishop Joseph Hodges, in 1995-1996 under Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt, and again starting in 2006 under Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, to adapt to contemporary liturgical needs while preserving its historical and architectural significance, serving as a beautiful legacy for generations to come.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/mwnz3spj) (https://tinyurl.com/ax23m25k) (https://tinyurl.com/4cp9u7x7) (https://tinyurl.com/5pastptb) (https://tinyurl.com/4wbef4j3)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons
The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, West Virginia, is the seat of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and home to the city's oldest Catholic parish, dating back to 1822. In 1847, the cathedral was moved to the corner of Eoff and 13th Street and named St. James Cathedral. However, in 1872, in response to the rising devotion to Saint Joseph and the burgeoning labor movement among Catholics in the coal fields, Bishop Richard V. Whelan petitioned Rome to change the title of the cathedral to honor Saint Joseph. The current Lombard Romanesque-style cathedral was built between 1923 and 1926 under the leadership of Bishop John James Swint, who served from 1922 to 1962, replacing the older cathedral damaged by fire in 1923. The cornerstone for the new building was blessed on May 5, 1924. Designed by Pittsburgh architect Edward J. Weber, the cathedral was dedicated on April 21, 1926. The cathedral features a dome inspired by the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, and a colorful interior adorned with murals by Felix B. Lieftuchter, stained glass by George W. Sotter, and intricate decorations in the Medieval Byzantine style. The cathedral has undergone several renovations and restorations, notably in 1973 under Bishop Joseph Hodges, in 1995-1996 under Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt, and again starting in 2006 under Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, to adapt to contemporary liturgical needs while preserving its historical and architectural significance, serving as a beautiful legacy for generations to come.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/mwnz3spj) (https://tinyurl.com/ax23m25k) (https://tinyurl.com/4cp9u7x7) (https://tinyurl.com/5pastptb) (https://tinyurl.com/4wbef4j3)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons
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