The Pythian Home of Missouri, also known as Pythian Castle, in Springfield, Missouri, was built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias and later owned by the U.S.military.[1] German and Italian prisoners-of-war were assigned here during World War II for medical treatment and as laborers. Some prisoners were kept in the detached powerhouse and laundry room behind the castle.[1] The laundry room is still owned by the U.S. Army.
The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on October 7, 2009.[1][2] It is privately owned and open to the public for tours by appointment.
The main building was designed to give the structure the appearance of a castle which reflected the theme of the Knights of Pythias. Its foundation and exterior is constructed of "Carthage Stone", an especially hard variety of limestone commonly quarried in the Ozarks.[1] The interior construction is composed of steel framework with poured concrete floors, ceilings, and stairways. The interior walls consist of layered hollow-core "Pyrobar Blocks" (a gypsum-based fireproofing material developed in the early 1900s), with a wire mesh covering that was coated with several layers of plaster.[1] The original main floor features a grand foyer, meeting room, ballroom, dining hall, and sitting parlors. The second floor, which is accessed by dual staircases on either wall, was designed with dormitory style rooms for children and bedrooms for adults. The second floor also features a theater with original ticket booth, seats, upper projection and lighting room as well as changing rooms backstage. The building also features a full basement. The power house was located directly behind the main building and housed the boiler as well as the institution's laundry facilities.[1]
Historyedit
Knights of Pythiasedit
The Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization, originally constructed the castle and detached power plant as a retirement home for needy members of the order and their widows and children.[1] It was called The Pythian Home of Missouri. Springfield was one of seven cities competing for the construction of the Pythian home and sold 53 acres (21 ha) of land to the knights for $1 in 1909.[1] It served as a meeting hall for the order until 1942.
WW IIedit
In 1942, during World War II, the United States Military commandeered the facility for use in conjunction with the adjacent O'Reilly General Hospital in entertaining and rehabilitating injured U.S. troops. It was renamed The Enlisted Men's Service Club. The facility featured a movie theater, ballroom, bowling alley, pool hall, library, and arts and crafts area. Some of the most famous movie stars, comedians, and entertainers of the era performed in the theater while the ballroom was host to big bands playing for the dancing pleasure of the troops. After the war the building was retained by the military for use as a reserve center until it was sold as surplus in 1993.[3]
Presentedit
It is now privately owned by Tamara Finocchiaro. Renovations have been completed to the property including a new driveway and parking area. In 2010 the castle was reopened to the public for tours and as an events facility.
^ abcdefghiTamara Finocchiaro, Chad Jackson, and Roger Maserang, Tamara (August 12, 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pythian Home of Missouri / Pythian Castle / O'Reilly Service Club / Building #501-U.S. Dept. of Army" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved October 17, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (51 pages, with 5 figures and 14 photos)
^. 2010-12-18. Archived from the original on 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
^"Weekly Highlight: National Register of Historic Places Official Website--Part of the National Park Service". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
External linksedit
Pythian Castle official site
National Register of Historical Places Registration
description by Springfield historian Richard Grosenbaugh
May 01, 2024
pythian, home, missouri, also, known, pythian, castle, springfield, missouri, built, 1913, knights, pythias, later, owned, military, german, italian, prisoners, were, assigned, here, during, world, medical, treatment, laborers, some, prisoners, were, kept, det. The Pythian Home of Missouri also known as Pythian Castle in Springfield Missouri was built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias and later owned by the U S military 1 German and Italian prisoners of war were assigned here during World War II for medical treatment and as laborers Some prisoners were kept in the detached powerhouse and laundry room behind the castle 1 The laundry room is still owned by the U S Army Pythian Home of MissouriU S National Register of Historic PlacesLocation1451 E Pythian Street Springfield MissouriCoordinates37 13 17 N 93 16 07 W 37 2214 N 93 2686 W 37 2214 93 2686Area2 66 acres 1 08 ha 1 Built1913NRHP reference No 09000812Added to NRHPOctober 7 2009 The building was listed on the U S National Register of Historic Places on October 7 2009 1 2 It is privately owned and open to the public for tours by appointment Contents 1 Construction 2 History 2 1 Knights of Pythias 2 2 WW II 2 3 Present 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksConstruction editThe main building was designed to give the structure the appearance of a castle which reflected the theme of the Knights of Pythias Its foundation and exterior is constructed of Carthage Stone an especially hard variety of limestone commonly quarried in the Ozarks 1 The interior construction is composed of steel framework with poured concrete floors ceilings and stairways The interior walls consist of layered hollow core Pyrobar Blocks a gypsum based fireproofing material developed in the early 1900s with a wire mesh covering that was coated with several layers of plaster 1 The original main floor features a grand foyer meeting room ballroom dining hall and sitting parlors The second floor which is accessed by dual staircases on either wall was designed with dormitory style rooms for children and bedrooms for adults The second floor also features a theater with original ticket booth seats upper projection and lighting room as well as changing rooms backstage The building also features a full basement The power house was located directly behind the main building and housed the boiler as well as the institution s laundry facilities 1 History editKnights of Pythias edit The Knights of Pythias a fraternal organization originally constructed the castle and detached power plant as a retirement home for needy members of the order and their widows and children 1 It was called The Pythian Home of Missouri Springfield was one of seven cities competing for the construction of the Pythian home and sold 53 acres 21 ha of land to the knights for 1 in 1909 1 It served as a meeting hall for the order until 1942 WW II edit In 1942 during World War II the United States Military commandeered the facility for use in conjunction with the adjacent O Reilly General Hospital in entertaining and rehabilitating injured U S troops It was renamed The Enlisted Men s Service Club The facility featured a movie theater ballroom bowling alley pool hall library and arts and crafts area Some of the most famous movie stars comedians and entertainers of the era performed in the theater while the ballroom was host to big bands playing for the dancing pleasure of the troops After the war the building was retained by the military for use as a reserve center until it was sold as surplus in 1993 3 Present edit It is now privately owned by Tamara Finocchiaro Renovations have been completed to the property including a new driveway and parking area In 2010 the castle was reopened to the public for tours and as an events facility See also editO Reilly General Hospital Knights of PythiasReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Tamara Finocchiaro Chad Jackson and Roger Maserang Tamara August 12 2009 National Register of Historic Places Registration Pythian Home of Missouri Pythian Castle O Reilly Service Club Building 501 U S Dept of Army PDF National Park Service Retrieved October 17 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link 51 pages with 5 figures and 14 photos National Register of Historic Places Listings 2010 12 18 Archived from the original on 2010 12 18 Retrieved 2020 07 01 Weekly Highlight National Register of Historic Places Official Website Part of the National Park Service www nps gov Retrieved 2020 06 05 External links editPythian Castle official site National Register of Historical Places Registration Springfield Historical Sites description by Springfield historian Richard Grosenbaugh Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pythian Home of Missouri amp oldid 1182075913, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
