Knights of Pythias Temple (Dallas, Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Knights of Pythias Temple |
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Knights of Pythias Temple, 2013
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| General information | |
| Type | Fraternal Organization |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Location | 2551 Elm Street |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Sidney Pittman |
| Awards and prizes | |
The Knights of Pythias Temple is an old and important building in Dallas, Texas. It's located in the Deep Ellum area. This historic building is also known as the Union Bankers Building because of a company that owned it later. A famous African-American architect named William Sidney Pittman designed it. The building first opened its doors in 1916.
Contents
Building History and Purpose
Designed by a Visionary Architect
William Sidney Pittman designed the Knights of Pythias Temple. He was a very talented African-American architect. The main group using the building was the state headquarters for the Grand Lodge of the Colored Knights of Pythias. They moved in when the building opened in 1916.
A Hub for the Community
This building was made to be used for many different things. On the first floor, there were shops like a barber shop and a drug store. The second floor had offices for African-American doctors and other professionals. Life insurance companies and other businesses filled the third floor. The fourth floor was a large ballroom and other public areas.
The building looked very grand, with a style called neoclassical. It had red brick walls and tall, arched windows on the top floor.
First of Its Kind in Dallas
The Knights of Pythias Temple was very special. It was the first big commercial building in Dallas that was built for African-Americans, by African-Americans, and paid for with money from African-Americans. From 1916 to 1939, it was the main place for social, professional, and cultural events for the city's African-American community.
The ballroom was a popular spot for performances and talks. Famous groups like the Fisk Jubilee Singers performed there. Important speakers like Marcus Garvey and George Washington Carver also visited.
Changes Over Time
New Owners and New Names
The Knights of Pythias group faced money problems. Because of this, they had to sell the temple in 1946. Later, in 1956, the building was sold again for $100,000. The local Pythians moved their offices to a different spot nearby.
In 1959, a company called Union Bankers Insurance Company bought the building. They changed it into a regular office building.
Becoming a Dallas Landmark
Even after Union Bankers bought the building, the old "Knights of Pythias" name was still on the outside. In the early 1980s, Union Bankers tried to cover up the old name. But people who wanted to save old buildings stepped in. They got a court order to make Union Bankers uncover the name.
In 1989, the city officially named the site a Dallas Landmark. This means it's an important historical place. Union Bankers left the building in the 1990s. For many years, the building was empty, even though people suggested different plans to fix it up. In 2017, a group of developers announced a plan to restore the building. They want to bring back its original red brick look.
Images for kids
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William Sidney Pittman, the architect who designed the building, around 1916.
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An advertisement for a dentist's office located in the Knights of Pythias Temple, from 1919.
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An advertisement for a performance by the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the Knights of Pythias Temple, from 1919.
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An advertisement for an insurance company located in the Knights of Pythias Temple, from 1921.
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An image of the Knights of Pythias Temple on Elm Street in Dallas, Texas, from The Dallas Express newspaper.
