The Founding of the Cathedral Parish
Before there was a Cathedral on First Hill, there was a tiny chapel where people worshipped while the great Cathedral was built.  It was here that the Cathedral was founded more than 100 years ago, on November 13, 1904.  Read about that exciting morning in Cathedral history here!
 

St. James Cathedral, when it was first built, was crowned by a graceful dome.  The great dome allowed natural light to stream in.


On February 2, 1916, Seattle was buried under the weight of a terrific snowstorm.  At about 3:15pm, "a roar like the boom of a heavy gun brought the priests and laymen to the cathedral from the nearby parish school and the bishop's residence" (Seattle P-I).

The Sisters of the Holy Names recorded their impressions in their chronicle:  "Shortly after the classes were dismissed this afternoon, we were startled by what we thought was a heavy snow slide, and upon looking out soon realized that the great dome of the Cathedral had fallen.  Priests and people were on the scene in an instant, and as usual in such cases, the priests risked their lives to save the Blessed Sacrament.  It was a touching sight to see them wade through the deep snow carrying our Eucharistic God to a safe abode in our little chapel.  As far as we know no lives have been lost, but that cannot be ascertained until the debris has been removed."

"Viewed from within," the Sisters wrote, "the beautiful building of Italian Renaissance architecture looked like the scenes of destruction wrought by the cannons in Belgium."  Cathedral Pastor Monsignor Noonan (so the story goes), sent for Bill O’Connell, the editor of the Catholic Northwest Progress, and carefully cautioned him, “now Willum, not a word of this to the press!”

The Sisters of the Holy Names concluded their account of this eventful day:  "We have much to thank God and our Blessed Lady for almost miraculous protection as we knelt for Mass under the scene of the calamity only that very morning.  We all are in sorrow over the destruction of our beautiful cathedral in sympathy with our devoted Bishop and his assistant priests."

Bishop O’Dea wrote:  “The great calamity which has recently visited us in the destruction of our great Cathedral is, no doubt, a source of intense sorrow to all of you, as well as to the bishop and clergy of Seattle.  And, while we feel greatly afflicted, still we must accept it resignedly from the hands of God, Who will, in His own good time, convert our sorrow into joy…  We know your loyalty and generosity, and we feel that a more beautiful and a more substantial temple will replace the old.”

Special thanks to Carolyn Marr and the Museum of History and Industry archives for permission to use their photos of the Dome collapse.