What happened at Pythian Castle?
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. The laundry room is still owned by the U.S. Army….
| Pythian Home of Missouri | |
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| Added to NRHP | October 7, 2009 |
Who owns the Pythian Castle?
Tamara Finocchiaro
Standing in the main ballroom of Springfield’s Pythian Castle, you can feel the history of the room. “It’s kind of interesting that we have a 100-year-old castle right here in the middle of Springfield and it has very interesting history,” said owner Tamara Finocchiaro, who purchased the castle 13 years ago.
How old is the Pythian Castle in Springfield MO?
108c. 1913
Pythian Castle/Age
How much did Pythian Castle sell for?
To show how willing they were to work with the organization, the chamber of commerce raised the money to buy 53 acres and sold it to the Knights for $1.
Who is Tamara Finocchiaro?
Tamara Finocchiaro, the owner and operator of Pythian Castle, said the order has very few members today. Starting from the East Coast and moving west, the group was at its peak when it reached the Midwest around the time of the Civil War. According to Tamara, the military took the castle over during World War II.
What does a Pythian mean?
1 : of or relating to games celebrated at Delphi every four years. 2 : of or relating to Delphi or its oracle of Apollo.
Was the Pythia a virgin?
In the old days, Pythia was a virgin, young girl, but after Echecrates of Thessaly kidnapped and violated a young and beautiful Pythia in the late 3rd century BC, a woman older than fifty years old was chosen, who dressed and wore jewelry to resemble a young maiden girl.
Why was the Pythia always a woman?
The Pythia’s female biological sex might have been a nod to the ancient past in that the oracles used to be under the guidance of Gaia or Themis. Plutarch described that it was believed that the oracle used to belong to Earth but that she “became inferior to the god [Apollo] and lost her august position.”
Where is the Pythian Castle in Springfield MO?
It was called the Pythian Castle. The 3- story, 27,000 square-foot limestone building which now stands at 1451 East Pythian in Springfield, MO is an example of Late Gothic Revival architecture and built to resembled a stone castle.
Why was the Pythian Home of Missouri called that?
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. It was called The Pythian Home of Missouri.
What was the purpose of the Pythian Castle?
Pythias as a home for the widows and orphans of its members. It was called the Pythian Castle. The 3- is an example of Late Gothic Revival architecture and built to resembled a stone castle . sat on over 160 acres and contained over 200 buildings.
What was the Knights of Pythias home called?
Knights of Pythias. 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. It was called The Pythian Home of Missouri.