Saint Joseph Cathedral
We can trace St. Joseph Cathedral Parish back to early 1866, when Rev. Edward M. Fitzgerald, pastor of Saint Patrick Church, felt that the church was overcrowded. There was also a desire to have a more centrally located church in downtown Columbus.
Two-hundred-fifty people generously donated nearly $37,000 to Father Fitzgerald to assist him with his new project. He then organized a Building Committee made up of influential members from Saint Patrick Church. It consisted of: Theodore Leonard, Treasure; William Naghten, Secretary; John Conahan; John Joyce; John D, Clarke; Thomas Bergin; John Caren; Michael Harding; William Wall; James Naughton; William Riches; John McCabe; Michael Hartman; John Duffy; Martin Whalen; Bernard NcNally and Michael Galvin.
Next, a subcommittee was chosen to find a suitable location in downtown Columbus. Although several good sites were proposed, the prevailing desire was to have the new church built on Broad Street. Two lots with a total frontage of 120 feet on Broad Street and a depth of 200 feet on Fifth Street were purchased from John Miller, through John Joyce, in April, 1866, for $13,500.
After the land was purchased, the men of St. Patrick Church held a meeting to decide to upon a name for the new church. J.D. Clark proposed St. Joseph, it was seconded, and all agreed. St. Joseph now had land and a name, and Architect Michael Harding was hired to prepare plans for the new church.
Mr. Harding originally designed the church to be 193 feet long by 90 feet wide. Interestingly, the original plans were modified only slightly as the work progressed, remaining essentially unchanged throughout the construction process.
On June 6, 1866, Mr. Harding staked out the foundation, and John McCabe, the Contractor, began to excavate the site. John Stoddard shortly began the masonry work. The work continued on the foundation until November 11, 1866 when the first cornerstone was laid.
