Texas Pythian Home

The Texas Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias considered building a home for dependent widows and children as early as 1886. In 1897 the Grand Lodge Convention started a fund to establish such a home. Both the Knights and the Pythian Sisters of Texas contributed to the fund, and in 1905 the decision was made to find a location and to make plans for the construction of the home. The cornerstone for the massive main building was laid at this site near Weatherford in 1907. Of brick and stone construction, the building exhibits Moorish influences and contains 52 rooms. The first floor originally housed the girls' dormitory, a dining room, and the kitchen, while the second floor served as the boys' dormitory and contained an auditorium. Additional dormitory facilities were built later and are joined to the main building by arched walkways. Originally known as the "Widows and Orphans Home and Industrial School", the establishment opened in 1909, with the first residents coming from Amarillo, Sherman, and Beaumont. Over the years, it has served a great need in caring for dependent widows and orphans. The main building of the Texas Pythian Home has long been a landmark in Parker County. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.

Texas Pythian Home is a historical marker in Weatherford, Parker County, dedicated in 1986. It is one of 73 historical markers documented in Parker County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 199 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7525, -97.7562 near Weatherford. The nearest cataloged historic site is Pythian Home Cemetery (cemetery), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Wampler Cemetery, Center Point Cemetery, and J.J. Hamilton Log Cabin.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5367005266. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.