Contemporary news articles about the purchase of the land on State Street and the construction of the church give a fascinating peek into the origins of our beautiful church.
On February 15, 1916, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported:
Reports in realty circles this afternoon that the St Lawrence German Catholic Church congregation had obtained options on the properties at Nos 110 and 114 State street, residences respectively of Miss Jeanne Pratt and M. Catherine McKee, could not be confirmed.
Two weeks later, on March 1, 1916, the Harrisburg Daily Independent did indeed get the story, reporting:
Just before the Roumfort deal was closed, announcement was made that the Very Rev. M. M. Hassett, administrator of the Harrisburg Diocese, acting for the St. Lawrenee German Catholic church, had purchased the the Catherine MeKee property, 110 State Street.
Bishop McDevitt came in October 1916 to lay the cornerstone, as reported in the Harrisburg Telegraph on Oct. 28, 1916:
Bishop Philip R. MeDevitt, of the Harrisburg diocese, will be the celebrant. He will lay the cornerstone in place and will bless the foundations for the new edifice. The Rev. Father Dauenhauer, rector of the Holy Redeemer church, Baltimore, will make the principal address of the afternoon, and the Rev. P. S. Huegel, rector of the St. Lawrence church will be master of ceremonies. He will be assisted by the clergy of the city and nearby towns. Members of the Knights of Columbus will attend the services in a body.
By February 1917, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported on Feb. 17 that "rapid strides" were being made in the church's construction:
The building now has progressed far enough to give the congregation an idea of what the building will look like when completed. In the front the stone work is now up about fifteen feet. In the rear the building is virtually completed on the outside. The rectory is now in a condition which permits the carpenters and inside decorators to get at work. A large force of masons is busily engaged in cutting the stone for rushing the work.
A year later, the church was done, and the Evening News reported April 19, 1918, the eve of the dedication of the church:
The formal opening of the beautiful new St. Lawrence Catholic Church, State street, near Front, will be observed tomorrow and Sunday with solemn consecration services. The Rev. P. S. Huegel is pastor of the church, which takes the place of the old St. Lawrence Church at Fifth and, Walnut streets, which was torn down to make way for the Capitol Park extension.
