The Knights of Pythias Building

The Knights of Pythias Building. . , Originally located some 100 yards north on Main Street, the Knights of Pythias Building was relocated to its present site in 2014 during the construction of the VMI Corps Physical Fitness Training Facility. For over 75 years the building played a key role in the cultural life of the Diamond Hill African-American community., In 1927 the original site was purchased by Johnson Pettigrew, Nowland Brooks, and John B. Thompson. Leaders of the community, the men formed Progressive Lodge No. 266 of the Knights of Pythias, an African American fraternal secret society date back to 1864. The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. They built this imposing 6,000 square foot concrete block structure as the lodge’s meeting house., Two years later the Great Depression began. By 1931 the trustees could no longer make payment on the mortgage, and they were forced to sell the property. The building was purchased at public auction by john B. Thompson, one of the original trustees of the Knights of Pythias. The building became a prominent gathering place. Youth activities from basketball games to dances took place on the open upper floor. After performing at VMI or W&L, visiting musicians of national acclaim such as Duke Ellington would provide music for dances. A small restaurant was located on the basement floor. The heirs of John Thompson sold the Knights of Pythias building to the Johnson Davis American Legion Post #291 in 1977. The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness., The post owned and occupied the building until 2005, when it was sold to VMI.