Pythian Home History

The History of the Texas Pythian Home
“The Castle on the Hill” – Serving Children Since 1909

The Texas Pythian Home opened its doors on March 1, 1909, as a safe haven for widows and orphans of Knights of Pythias members. Weatherford, Texas, became home to the castle-like structure after the local community donated 300 acres of land and rallied behind the vision.

Early Years

Main Building: Orphaned children lived upstairs, widows with children stayed in basement apartments, and administrative offices were on the first floor.
Growing Need: As the number of boys increased, a boys’ dorm was built in 1914. Girls moved into a separate dorm in 1925.
Widows Transition: By the early 1970s, widows were no longer housed here due to the opening of a retirement facility for Pythians in Greenville, TX.

Education

In 1910, the Home was designated an independent school district.
The last high school class graduated in 1937; grades 6–12 began attending Weatherford ISD.
The Home continued educating grades 1–5 until 1972.

Self-Sufficiency

For decades, the Home operated its own dairy, garden, and orchard. Children and staff maintained the grounds, sold extra produce, and helped support operations.
Due to changing government regulations, these activities were scaled back by the mid-1970s. Today, the Home still raises a small amount of beef for meat and income.

Land & Facilities

Over the years, land was sold and Interstate 20 was constructed through the southern portion of the property. Today, the Home sits on approximately 164 acres.
Modern facilities reflect a shift from institutional living to true residential care:

Children now enjoy private space—60 square feet per child.
Staff-to-child ratios follow current standards: 1 adult per 8 children (or 1:4 for kids under 5).
Dormitories are home-like, not crowded, and focused on nurturing care.

A Legacy of Service