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Weatherford in Parker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
 

Texas Pythian Home

 
 
Texas Pythian Home Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Gary Estep
1. Texas Pythian Home Marker
Restored Marker
Inscription. 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

 
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical
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Commission. (Marker Number 5266.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public WorkFraternal or Sororal OrganizationsWomen. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
 
Location. 32° 45.026′ N, 97° 45.373′ W. Marker is in Weatherford, Texas, in Parker County. It is at the intersection of East Bankhead Drive and Jennifer Court, on the right when traveling west on East Bankhead Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1825 East Bankhead Drive, Weatherford TX 76086, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Campbell Memorial Hospital (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Double Log Cabin (approx. 1.8 miles away); Gustavus Adolphus Holland (approx. 2.1 miles away); Fred Rider Cotten (approx. 2.1 miles away); Weatherford College Old Main Building (approx. 2.2 miles away); Roy and Jeanne Grogan Historic Plaza (approx. 2.2 miles away); Parker County (approx. 2.2 miles away); James Robertson Couts (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weatherford.
 
Texas Pythian Home Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, June 20, 2023
2. Texas Pythian Home Marker
Texas Pythian Home and Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, June 20, 2023
3. Texas Pythian Home and Marker
Sign for Texas Pythian Home image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, June 20, 2023
4. Sign for Texas Pythian Home
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 905 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on January 3, 2026, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas.   2, 3, 4. submitted on June 22, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 2, 2026