The First Stone Shed - Divine Stone

For reference, the Belmont Chapel, later named the Chapel of St. Saviour, began construction at the eastern end of the Cathedral around 1901 (left side of photo). 1899 saw the completion of the great eastern arch (right side of photo). The massive chancel columns were in place at the end of 1904 (center of photo). The picture above shows the choir walls beginning to go up. Cut stone production was in full swing at this time in the first stone shed.

Stone Shed - undated — Cutters and Carvers in the early stone shed

The massive columns defining the Chancel had to be up before the construction of the walls could begin. Once in place, at end of 1904 the walls of the Choir began to go up. The substructure of the walls was granite with the interior facing specified as Frontenac Limestone.

Beginning in 1901, the cutters and carvers created the stone that would decorate the interior of the choir, chancel, including the capitals for those massive columns and for work to continue to finish the first apsidal chapel, the Belmont Chapel. We don’t know the names of these cutters and carvers, nor the masons who set the stones. Their work and the beauty and craftsmanship is there for all to see.

Masons setting stone in choir — Masons setting stone in interior of choir

Limestone veneer going up on interior columns of granite substrate — Masons setting stone in interior of choir

The Sculptors Moved In

Slowly the carvers and sculptors took over the stone shed. They would create the statuary inside and outside the Cathedral. The photo below shows the models for the statues of the apostles. The final placement, high up on the outside walls of the choir, would show off these statues to the world.

Sculptors also carved the reredos for the altar in the stone shed.

Stone Shed carving from 1909 — Partially carved statues for Reredos alongside models – 1909

Frontenac Limestone was selected by Heins and La Farge from hundreds of samples submitted. It was quarried in Goodhue County, Minnesota along the Mississippi River. It is pale yellow to light cream in color and was used in much of the interior of the Choir, Chancel and Apsidal Chapels. The quarry began production in the 1850’s aided by river travel and slowly ceased operation in the beginning of the 20th century when river commerce was overtaken by the railroads.

All Photos – Irma and Paul Milstein Division of the United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library
Minnesota Historical Society

The Sculptors Moved In

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