Charles L. Wallace’s family came from Ireland.  He was born on July 5, 1871, married Julia Mahoney on December 29, 1896, and died on February 12, 1949.   

According to the Wallace family history composed by Sister Mary Angela Wallace, RSM, one of Charles Wallace’s daughters, Charles and Julia lived at 1013 Cass Street in Joliet.  This was Julia's home when they first married in 1896.  In 1898, they briefly lived on Illinois Street after their first son was born, but soon moved to the “Wallace Flats” at 304 Washington.  The Rock Island Railroad forced the sale of that property, so in 1907 Wallace designed and built 709 Campbell Street for his family and 711 Campbell Street for his mother and sisters. 

Mr. Wallace was associated with over 100 structures in Joliet and the Chicago metropolitan area, including churches, schools and houses.  Historic Joliet buildings designed by Mr. Wallace include St. Patrick’s Church on Marion Street, the original St. Raymond’s Church on Douglas Street, St. Mary’s on Broadway Street, St. Joseph’s on Chicago Street, St. Cyril and Methodius and Sacred Heart School in Lockport.  His work with the architectural firm Hoen, Webster and Wallace was responsible for Farragut and Washington schools. 

In 1910, Mr. Wallace opened a Chicago office in the Tribune Building.  Mr. Wallace designed several churches in the Chicago area, including St. Margaret of Scotland Church and School (99^th and Throop Street), St. Mel (Washington Boulevard), St. Clotilde (84^th and Calumet Street), St. Dorothy (78^th and Vernon Street), St. Viator (Addison and Kedvale Streets) and St. Anselm.  He also designed Immaculate Conception in Elmhurst, St. Mark in Gary, Indiana and a Catholic church in Schererville, Indiana.   

Mr. Wallace was also frequently used as an architectural consultant by the Chicago Catholic diocese. 

Thousands of people have been touched by this man and most do not even know his name.  People throughout the last century have lived in homes, attended schools and worshipped in churches he designed never realizing his central role in creating such magnificent buildings that are a part of their lifetime memories. 

When Mr. Wallace died in 1949, his obituary was fittingly printed on the front page of the Joliet Herald (February 13, 1949). 

(Editor’s note: Many thanks go out to Sharon Skaggs for providing us with the history on Charles L. Wallace.)

The beautiful Stations of the Cross, all original compositions, were painted by Sister Mary Stanisia, who resided and taught at the Academy of Our Lady.  See Stations of the Cross for more information about the Stations and the artist.

The breathtaking stained glass windows, medallion in type and mosaic in structure, were designed by Arthur Kroiden of the Willet studio in Chicago.  For more information, see Stained Glass Windows.

The magnificent marble altars were imported from Italy by Daprato Statuary Company and made from Mr. Wallace's original drawings.  The decorating, Venetian in motif and simple in design, is the work of Mr. J. Murray (The New World, December 21, 1928).  The marble statues of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were installed in the main altar in 1960.  The Daprato Statuary Company also created and installed these four statues.

The shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, found next to the Blessed Virgin Mary side altar, was blessed and dedicated on April 13, 1959.
 
To see how the church has evolved over the years, see Church Pictures.

Charles Wallace

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