The Reborn Knights of Pythias Building
by Kevin Buchanan
If you spent any time reading Fort Worthology, you’re probably familiar with the saga of the old Knights of Pythias building in the Hillside neighborhood on downtown’s east side. For the uninitiated, though, here’s the summary:
The building, built in 1925, was threatened with demolition back in June by its then-current owners. As I wrote then on that site:
Now, a Knights of Pythias hall is worthy enough of preservation, but what makes this building especially historic is that it was the home of the Key of the West Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, a segregated African American lodge. So little of Fort Worth’s built African American heritage from that era remains standing that the loss of this building would be especially tragic. After the Knights moved out, the building was used for various retail uses (including a beauty shop, the decayed signage of which can still be found on the building) before finally being abandoned.
Ten years ago, the surrounding neighborhood was bought by developers to create the Hillside Apartments, a large collection of small apartment houses designed to fit into the traditional look of the neighborhood. When Hillside was developed, the owners of the Knights building did not sell. The building is now in the heart of the reborn Hillside neighborhood, across Crump St. from the Hillside office and sharing a block with a historic church and a sole remaining tiny “shotgun” house. Ever since the Hillside development, the building has still remained vacant and in disrepair.
There was quite an uproar over the building’s demolition. I am very proud to say that I was able to help lead the charge against demolition and, working in concert with other preservationists, brought the plight of the KofP building to a wider audience. In the end, the TownSite Company, led by Phillip Poole, purchased the building to save it and redevelop it.
TownSite has been quietly putting together plans for the building, which include adding a third floor (set back from the building’s existing parapet to not overly impact its historic appearance, similar to the way architect David Schwarz added a sixth floor to the Sanger Building in the early ’90s during that building’s redevelopment into Sanger Lofts) and a parking addition on the building’s south side. Finally, I am very happy to report that I can at last reveal to the world the Knights of Pythias building’s new look. Here it is:
Doesn’t it look great? According to TownSite, cleanup and initial work on the building begins soon. After getting one final approval from the Downtown Design Review Board (DDRB) in February, marketing for the building’s condos will begin.
This is a great victory for preservation, the Hillside neighborhood, and the city as a whole. I’m proud that first Fort Worthology and now West and Clear is able to help bring attention to the building, and I’m absolutely thrilled that TownSite stepped up and not only saved the building, but are giving it such a cool new lease on life. A big round of applause to everybody at TownSite for their work redeveloping the KofP building.
2 Comments, Comments or Pings
Suzette
Yes, it looks great! Keep up the good work and let us know when & how we can help.
Jan 19th, 2008
Kamey Wilson
Hi,
I am looking for anyone that may have information on the Knights of Pythias - African American Order. I wrote to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and they said that African Americans had their own organization with the same name before the 1950’s.
I have found an old panoramic photo dated 1932 with All African American Knights of Pythias and Counts of Calanthe.
I would love to know the history behind this photo.
Let me know if you can help.
Kamey Wilson
Aug 15th, 2008
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