Pythian Castle

Pythian Castle in Toledo, Ohio, is a historic Romanesque Revival building constructed in 1890 by the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias. Designed by the architects Norval Bacon and Thomas Huber, the building originally served as a meeting hall and featured a striking spire rising 121 feet (37 meters) above the street. Over the decades, ownership changed hands several times, including Greyhound Lines and various private individuals who tried to halt its decline. After a fire in 1978, the building fell into a severe state of disrepair, which led to its inclusion on local lists of poorly maintained properties. It was not until 2013 that the Lucas County Land Bank took over the property to make redevelopment possible. Extensive renovation work has been underway since 2017, including the installation of a new roof, the replacement of windows, and the restoration of the heating and electrical systems. The goal is to make the landmarked building habitable again and open it up to new users.