The William Howard Statue is located in the foyer of the William Howard Memorial Cathedral, on West Fourth Street in Williamsport Pa. The statue was unveiled by his grandchildren on January 27th 1904.
The sculptor was Edmond Thomas Quinn 1868-1929, whose work can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Ireland.
Among his best known works was a bust of Edgar Allen Poe in Poe Park, Professor Franklin W. Hooper in the Brooklyn Museum, and according to his obituary, "the figure of John [William] Howard at Williamsport"
He won a silver medal for his bronze sculpture of model Audrey Munson at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, San Francisco, 1915. Among his outdoor sculptures visible today are Edwin Booth as Hamlet in Gramercy Park, composer Victor Herbert near the Naumburg Bandshell on the Central Park Mall, and baseball pioneer Harry Wright in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
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WILLIAM HOWARD 1831-1901
William Howard was born in England in 1831. He was educated there, and learned the stone masons trade, before emigrating to the Unites States in 1854. He settled in Reading, building a railroad bridge for the Lebanon Valley Railroad Company.
In 1854 Howard came to Williamsport to work on construction of a dam, then working three years for the Water Mill Company.
Howard Lumber Company Logging Train
In 1863 he purchases extensive lumber lands in Cameron County, founding the C.B & W. Howard Stock Logger company. In 1866, in partnership with John R. Cooke, he purchased a sawmill in Clinton County, and then became a partner in Slonaker, Howard & Co. [later, Howard, Perley, and Howard]. He served on Williamsport's Council.
William Howard died March 5 1901. He is buried in Wildwood Cemetery.
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THE CATHEDERAL
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An active Mason, Howard had purchased the former Piper property next to the Masonic Temple. Plans for the chapel were drawn up before Howard's death, but the building was not completed until 1903. The Williamsport Consistory named their new chapel for Howard, and in 1904, 3 years after his death, unveiled a statue there in his honor.
A dedication plaque in the foyer of the chapel reads:
This Cathedral is Dedicated to
William Howard, 32 [degree]
who donated the land and practically the entire cost of this building, which contains the auditorium and banquet hall - but who died before it's completion.
In recognition of his loyalty and love for Williamsport Consistory and the Scottish Rite Masonry, this statue was placed here by his Masonic friends.
Williamsport Bulletin, April 11 1901
The plans for the proposed William Howard Memorial Cathedral, the splendid gift of the late William Howard to the Scottish Rite of Williamsport, have all been completed, by Truman P. Reitmeyer, the architect, a and contemplate an imposing front on Fourth street, in the rear of the Masonic Temple, and a handsome addition to the architecture of that vicinity. Work on the new structure will be started soon.
Inside the Foyer, 2025
The Memorial Hall and Cathedral will be an L shaped building, surrounding on two sides the Piper residence, (which will be used as a Home for the William Howard Temple Club of the Knights Templar) and will have no connection with the big Masonic Temple structure. The new building will be used exclusively for Scottish Rite purposes, and will cost, it is thought, about $40,000. The entrance building, which adjoins the Masonic Temple, is to be of Scottish Baronial architecture, and the front may be constructed of pink granite. It is 36 feet wide. It is to bean elaborate front, with much carved stonework, a tower on the east side extending skyward to a height of 98 feet.
Mosaic Floor in the entrance, 2025
On the top of this tower is to be an old Egyptian Masonic emblem, representing earth, fire, ether and water. Near top of the front is a double eagle, the Scottish Rite emblem. There is a most elaborate entrance. Hall, with a Mosaic floor, and the entrance is the Memorial magnificent grand staircase in the rear leading to the upper floors. There are also the secretary and treasurer's office, and a vault, on this floor, back of the Memorial Hall.
Next comes the big Cathedral building, which is practically a structure, as the auditorium occupies the second and third floors. This building is 67 by 104 feet. On the "first floor there are lobbies, and a restaurant that connects with the kitchen of the Piper residence. Then there is a large lodge room, property room, secret vault, boiler room and toilet room. On the second floor of the Cathedral is the auditorium, with a stage, property room, robing room, coat room and sentinel's room, a wide corridor surrounding the auditorium.
The auditorium, with gallery, will seat 600. The floor contains the gallery of the auditorium, a property 'room, grand promenade and lounging room. In the rear of the gallery there is a place for the organ and choir, and outside of this a nook for an invisible choir, reached by, a hallway. This is for the use of church choirs that are sometimes called in, and the nook is so arranged that the singing can be heard inside, but the singers cannot see in. On this floor there is also a lobby and parlor for the Commander in Chief.
On the fourth and last floor is the big banquet hall, store room, kitchen, lobby, reception and toilet rooms. This building will likely be of brick, but the inside furnishings will be on an elaborate scale, making it one of the finest structures of the kind in the country.----------------
The Cathedral was dedicated in a 3 day ceremony, March 25-27th 1903
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Included in this display is a vase presented by William Howard in 1901, and the trowel used in laying the cornerstone of the Howard Memorial Hall, 1902.
To the right, not shown in this photo, is a program for the unveiling of the Howard Statue, 1904
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The Howard Statue, by E.T. Quinn, was Unveiled on January 27th 1904, by his grandchildren.
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READ MORE
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Howards Lumber operation in Rich Valley, Cameron County from the 1890's
From the History Of Lycoming County by Meginness:
WILLIAM HOWARD of the firm of Howard & Perley lumber manufacturers was born in Yorkshire England August 13 1831 son of John and Hannah [Lockwood] Howard. who lived and died in their native land.
He received his education in England and learned the stonemason's trade. In 1854 he came to the United States located at Reading Pennsylvania and worked a short time for the Lebanon Valley Railroad Company in building a bridge near the city of Reading.
He came to Williamsport in August 1854 and worked on the dam on the Susquehanna near that city. He next found employment with the Water Mill Company for a few years and in 1857 he went into the lumber woods and engaged in that business. Some time later he organized the firm of CB & W Howard and engaged in the lumber business as log stockers. In 1863 he purchased land in Cameron county and operated there until 1887 In 1866. Mr Howard went into partnership with John R Cooke & Company purchased the saw mill now operated by Howard & Perley and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He was later a member of the firm of Slonaker Howard & Company which was merged into that of Howard Perley & Howard and finally became Howard & Perley. Mr Howard is one of the pioneer lumbermen of Williamsport and has been prominent in the lumber interests in this section of the State for many years dividing his time between Williamsport and Cameron county.
He is a stanch Democrat and while living in Emporium was burgess of that borough for two terms and served two terms as county commissioner of Cameron county. He was also a member of the borough council of Emporium for several years and has served two years in the common council of Williamsport.
Mr. Howard was one of the organizers and is a stock holder and director in the First National Bank of Emporium and was one of the organizers of the Emporium Water Company and is a director in that institution.
He is a stockholder and director in the Lycoming Rubber Company of which he was one of the organizers. He was active in securing the removal of the Demorest Sewing Machine Works to Williamsport and gave liberally of his means in furtherance of that project. He is a stockholder in the West Branch National Bank and a member of the Board of Trade and of the Ross Club.
Mr. Howard was married December 28 1853 to Mary Woodhead, a native of England, and has one son Samuel T who is employed with the firm of Howard & Perley. He and wife are members of Trinity Protestant Episcopal church and he is a vestryman in that organization. He is a prominent Mason and is connected with the lodge chapter commandery and consistory.
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The sculptor was Edmond Thomas Quinn 1868-1929. His work Can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Gallery of Ireland.
Among his best known works was a bust of Edgar Allen Poe in Poe Park, Professor Franklin W. Hooper in the Brooklyn Museum, and according to his obituary, "the figure of John [William] Howard at Williamsport"
He won a silver medal for his bronze sculpture of model Audrey Munson at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, San Francisco, 1915
Among his outdoor sculptures visible today are Edwin Booth as Hamlet in Gramercy Park, composer Victor Herbert near the Naumburg Bandshell on the Central Park Mall, and baseball pioneer Harry Wright.
In May of 1929, the renowned sculptor phoned the police and requested they come and collect his body so that his wife would not come upon it, and then he took what he expected to be a fatal dose of poison mixed with whiskey. The police arrived and took him to the hospital, where he made a full recovery - the liquor in which he mixed the poison proving to be a helpful antidote for the poison. In September of 1929 he made a second attempt, and this time it was successful, his body was recovered in New York Harbor.
See a collection of papers and some of Quinns work, in papers held by Yale, online here: https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/32256702
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