[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7366]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEXAS PYTHIAN HOME

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                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 16, 2009

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the beginning of the Texas Pythian Home. The Home, 
called the ``Castle on the Hill,'' is located in my district in the 
city of Weatherford, Texas.
  The Texas Pythian Home began on March 1, 1909, as a home for widows 
and orphans of Knights of Pythias members. The Pythians, a fraternal 
order, made the decision to build the home in Weatherford following a 
donation of three hundred acres of land.
  The main building housed orphaned children on the second floor. The 
basement was divided into apartments for widows with children. There 
were soon so many boys that it became necessary to build a boys-only 
dorm. The boys moved into their new dorm in 1914. In 1925, a girls-only 
dorm was built. In the early 1970s, widows moved to the completed 
retirement home in Greenville, Texas.
  The Pythian Home School was designated an independent school district 
on August 1, 1910 and continued until 1972. In 1937, the last high 
school graduating class walked across the Pythian auditorium stage. It 
had been decided to send grades 6-12 to Weatherford Independent School 
District. Grades 1-5 continued to have classes at the Pythian Home 
until 1972.
  As part of its effort to be self-sufficient, the Home had a large 
dairy operation for many years. Animals were raised to provide meat. 
The Home also had its own garden and orchard. The staff and children 
kept busy maintaining all of the operations. A change in government 
regulations in 1972 limited these operations, so the dairy closed in 
1976.
  There were many changes through the years. The Texas Pythian Home is 
now the last one in existence. The Home, located on 164 acres, can 
house up to 62 children. The number of children in residence changes as 
the economy and family circumstances change.
  The Pythian principles of friendship, charity, and benevolence 
continue to be the driving force behind the organization. The Home is 
here because it reaches out to those in need.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Texas Pythian Home on 
the 100th anniversary of its founding and to offer my sincere 
appreciation for the many contributions that its residents have made 
and continue to make to the city of Weatherford and the state of Texas.

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