History

Purchased in 1918 and built in 1924 – The Cathedral was a historic undertaking from one of New Castle’s most notable figures – John S. Wallace.

info_sub_1The Scottish Rite Cathedral is the reality of a dream of Illustrious Brother John S. Wallace, 33°. Brother Wallace was a Masonic Official of the area and the first Commander-in-Chief of the Valley of New Castle, and was one of only two Deputies for the State of PA. He lived next door to where the Cathedral now stands, and he wanted a place large enough for all Masonic groups to meet. The property that the Cathedral occupies was purchased at several different times. The plot that the Cathedral sits on was purchased in 1918. Additional plots were bought in 1921, 1923 and 1924.

info_sub_2The architect was Mr. R.G. Schmidt and the contractor firm was S.M. Seisel, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As they were building, they ran into quicksand…a rare find on the side of a hill! The quicksand rose from the back of the building, so to ensure the building was sound, they added piling. The cornerstone was laid in 1925. The ceremony for this event was quite an event for New Castle. Thousands of spectators joined the celebration. The Cathedral’s first official use was November 8, 1926.

info_sub_3During the Great Depression, an unthinkable thing happened. The Masonic Association was unable to pay its taxes on the building. In 1940, the building was sold. In 1944, the Cathedral Foundation was formed and approved by the Court of Common Pleas of Lawrence County. This non-profit organization still operates the Cathedral today. The Cathedral Foundation consists of the members of the Valley of New Castle, who have worked together over the years to maintain its beauty. In 1950, the Cathedral Foundation purchased the lot next to Mercer St. where Mr. Wallace’s house was. After Mr. Wallace passed away, the bank closed the estate and sold the property to the Valley of New Castle to build a parking lot.

For more great historical information about New Castle, PA visit:

Lawrence County Historical Society
Lawrence County Tourism Promotion Agency