Cathedral centennial This article was published on 06.19.08 On May 21, 1906, Catholic officials purchased the Sol Levy home at the corner of Second and Chestnut (now Arlington Avenue) for $10,000 as the site of a church, possibly a cathedral. The cornerstone was laid in June and on Sept. 15, Father Thomas Tubman returned to Reno from Grass Valley where he obtained the Sacramento bishop’s approval for a cathedral (Reno was then in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento). St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral was dedicated June 21, 1908, and was one of the city’s most striking architectural features. A Dec. 21, 1909, fire collapsed the ceiling and did other major damage. The building was salvaged and reopened the next year. In spite of the hard times of the Depression, a school building behind the church was added and dedicated in October 1931. A cathedral renovation in the 1950s added the dominant interior feature, a wraparound mural that surrounds the altar, and new stained glass windows were added in the 1960s. Since that renovation, the interior has become a bit worn and fundraising is now going on to upgrade it, but St. Thomas remains a work of art.Photo By Dennis Myers More Local Stories » News Pic Inventive minds Published on 06.12.08 McCain brings them together Published on 06.05.08 Personal adjournment Published on 05.22.08 Warm day, cool cars Published on 05.15.08 May Day Published on 05.08.08