History
The Texas Pythian Home began as a Widows and Orphans Home on March 1, 1909. The Pythians had made decision to build the Home in Weatherford, Texas due to the amount of land given as well as the support of the community. The 300 acres was given to the Pythians to build the castle type structure to the east of Weatherford.
The Main Structure housed the orphan children upstairs the main floor housed staff and the basement was divided into apartments for he widows and their children. There became too many for the available so the boys’ dorm was built in 1914. All of the boys were moved to the boys’ dorm and the orphan girls moved to the basement until their dorm was built in 1925.
Once the children were moved form the upstairs in 1914, a school was started for he children living at the Home. The school continued from 1914 until the last graduating class in 1937. The secondary students were then sent to Weatherford Independent Schools. The first through fifth grades continued to have classes at the Pythian Home until 1972.
Widows no longer live at the Pythian Home. There was a large dairy operation for many years. There were animals raised to provide meat for the residents. The Home also had a huge garden and orchard. The staff as well as the children living at the Home Kept busy maintaining all of the operations. The government regulations changed many of these operations. No longer is the dairy in operation. The Home still has a garden and orchard. We also continue to raise beef; however, government regulations limit the children’s’ exposure to operating a farm.
There were hard times through the years. Land was sold off to various developers. The interstate was built through the Pythian Home land. We now have approximately 110 acres. Housing additions are all around us. We are no longer out in the middle of nowhere. The city limits are to the east beyond the Home.
Staff to child ratios have changed through the years also. At one time, one little matron could be responsible for 30 to 35 children. Our ratio is now eight children to one adult. Children under the age of five have the ratio of four children to one adult. The dormitory is no longer filled with beds lining the walls. There is sixty square feet of bedroom space per child. The castle on the Hill is no longer an institution but it is now a home.
The castle that Love Built remains in existence today because the love that come together so many years ago to give those less fortunate a chance, still exists.
Even though many changes have come and gone, children and staff come and gone, the principles in which the Pythian Home was built are in existence even today. The Principles of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence continue to be the driving forces behind the organization that supports the Home.
Those members who see the needs of others and reach out to meet those needs are the reason the Home here.
