Scottish Rite Cathedral (New Castle, Pennsylvania)

The Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States, was designed by Milwaukee architect R. G. Schmidt and built in 1925.[1] First used in November, 1926, as a meeting place for Masonic groups,[1] it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Unable to pay taxes during the Great Depression, the Masons lost the building to the county,[1] but reacquired it in 1940 with the creation of the Cathedral Foundation.[1] This non-profit foundation continues to operate the Cathedral today.[2]

Scottish Rite Cathedral
Front view of Cathedral
General information
TypeCathedral
Architectural styleNeo-classic
Location41°0′19″N 80°20′41″W
Address110 E. Lincoln Ave
Town or cityNew Castle, PA
CountryUSA
Construction started1925
Completed1926
InauguratedNovember 8, 1926
Cost1.7 million
OwnerCathedral Foundation
Height180 feet
Design and construction
ArchitectR. G. Schmidt
Other information
Seating capacity2,834
Website
cathedralnewcastle.com
References
visitlawrencecounty.com

History

John S. Wallace, a Masonic official and first Commander-In-Chief of the New Castle area,[2] desired a building large enough to accommodate all Masonic groups.[2] Though the land on which the Cathedral sits was purchased in 1918, additional land was bought in 1921, 1923, and 1924.[2] Because the builders ran into quicksand, piling had to be added to the back of the building to ensure the structure was sound.[2] At the time it was built, the Cathedral was the largest facility between New York and Chicago.[1]

Today

The Cathedral continues to be used today for wedding receptions, banquets, and most notably for performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.[3] The auditorium in which the symphony performs has a seating capacity of 2,834, and a stage that is 82 feet wide, 46 feet deep, and 65 feet high.[1]

References
  1. Visit Lawrence County.com
  2. Cathedral New Castle
  3. Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
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