Today in Wheeling History: April 21—The Cathedral of Saint Joseph was formally dedicated in Wheeling, marking the completion of its construction (1926).
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph stands as the mother church of Catholicism in Wheeling and seat of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Designed by architect Edward J. Weber in the Lombardi Romanesque style, the impressive structure features a 148-foot dome, twin turrets flanking a rose window, and a cruciform floor plan. Construction began in 1923 after a fire damaged the previous cathedral, with Bishop John J. Swint overseeing the project. The dedication ceremonies on April 21, 1926, were extraordinarily grand, with approximately 200 Catholic clergy attending, including Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore and multiple bishops. The solemn consecration began at 6 a.m. with the blessing of the exterior and interior walls, followed by the consecration of the altars and a Pontifical High Mass. Bishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland delivered the consecration sermon, comparing the event to Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Cathedral parish itself dates to 1822, making it Wheeling's oldest Catholic congregation. Over the decades, the Cathedral has undergone several renovations—most notably in 1973 to comply with Vatican II liturgical reforms and again in the 1990s and 2000s for restoration work. Today, it remains an architectural and spiritual landmark in Wheeling and a contributing property to the East Wheeling Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/mrx2dk2s); Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mwyc3xvb), Saint Joseph Cathedral (https://tinyurl.com/mszx2frp), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/5exn288c), SAH Archipedia (https://tinyurl.com/299sk38x)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Diocese of Wheeling Charleston, American Architect and Building News (via the Internet Archive), Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling Intelligencer
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph stands as the mother church of Catholicism in Wheeling and seat of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Designed by architect Edward J. Weber in the Lombardi Romanesque style, the impressive structure features a 148-foot dome, twin turrets flanking a rose window, and a cruciform floor plan. Construction began in 1923 after a fire damaged the previous cathedral, with Bishop John J. Swint overseeing the project. The dedication ceremonies on April 21, 1926, were extraordinarily grand, with approximately 200 Catholic clergy attending, including Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore and multiple bishops. The solemn consecration began at 6 a.m. with the blessing of the exterior and interior walls, followed by the consecration of the altars and a Pontifical High Mass. Bishop Joseph Schrembs of Cleveland delivered the consecration sermon, comparing the event to Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Cathedral parish itself dates to 1822, making it Wheeling's oldest Catholic congregation. Over the decades, the Cathedral has undergone several renovations—most notably in 1973 to comply with Vatican II liturgical reforms and again in the 1990s and 2000s for restoration work. Today, it remains an architectural and spiritual landmark in Wheeling and a contributing property to the East Wheeling Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/mrx2dk2s); Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mwyc3xvb), Saint Joseph Cathedral (https://tinyurl.com/mszx2frp), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/5exn288c), SAH Archipedia (https://tinyurl.com/299sk38x)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Diocese of Wheeling Charleston, American Architect and Building News (via the Internet Archive), Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling Intelligencer
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