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News • Missouri • United States • 2014-05-14

Castle Celebrates Centennial June 1

Castle Celebrates Centennial June 1

Springfield, Mo. – Pythian Castle is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a look to the past, present and future.

The current owners, Tamara Finocchiaro and MJ Page, are inviting the public to attend a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. June 1 honoring people from all time periods in the castle’s history, lay a time capsule and be part of a photograph that will include people from the castle’s past.

Cost for the event is $25 per person and reservations are required. Guests will receive a complimentary postcard of a rendition of the castle created by artist John Stoeckly.

To make reservations, go to http://pythiancastle.com/reservations.html or call 417-865-1464.

Here’s a lineup of the castle’s past and special guests who will be honored.

1914-1941 Pythian Home of Missouri - Pythian Castle was built by the Knights of Pythias as a care facility for children and elder members related to the order.

Special guests from this era include:

Knights of Pythias from around Missouri.

Mildred Hall Cherry (if well enough), an orphan who lived at the castle from 1928-1936.

Bob Swadley, the son of Lynn Swadley, pastor of Pythian Avenue church. Bob Swadley went to the castle with his dad once a month for church services, and watched movies in the castle’s theatre. He recalls seeing “Tarzan the Ape Man” at the castle in the 1930s.

1942-1946 O’Reilly Service Club – The castle was purchased by the U.S. government to be used as part of O’Reilly General Hospital during WWII.

Special guests from the era include:

Marvin Coon, 320th Engineer Group

Windsor Warren, 320th Engineer Group and principle architect

with Warren Goodin, the firm that managed current renovation

Elvena (Eagleburger) Sade, nurse

Jeep Green, daughter of Carl Datz, born while he was a WWII photographer at the castle and responsible for great pictures of events of that time.

1950-1980 U.S. Army Reserve - After the war, the castle was used as a U.S. Army Reserve.

Special guest from this time period:

Bill Dillstrom, son of Don Dillstrom, a major in the Army. Bill Dillstrom played throughout castle during the1950s while his dad was in the reserves. He also is the photographer who will capture this special day.

1980-1993 OACAC – Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation, an organization that provides services to low income families, leased the facility from the U.S. government.

Special guests from this era:

Carl Rozencrantz, OACAC executive director

Nancy Masner, 30-year OACAC employee

1993-2003 Private Ownership - Rhonda and Gene Taylor purchased the castle from the U.S. government at a silent auction.

2003-Present Pythian Castle - Tamara Finocchiaro and her mother, MJ Page, purchased the castle and began renovations. Pythian Castle now provides tours, murder mystery dinners, ghost tours, cabaret shows and other events and is a venue for weddings and other group events.

Other interesting guests

Danielle Brown, a bride getting married at the castle June 12, whose mom found out she was pregnant with her in the castle when OACAC was there.

Learn more about Pythian Castle at www.PythianCastle.com or call 417-865-1464. To learn more about Springfield, visit www.SpringfieldMO.org or call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 417-881-5300 or 800-678-8767.

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The Convention & Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit organization dedicated to boosting the local economy by promoting travel and tourism to Springfield. For more information, contact the CVB at 417-881-5300 or 800-678-8767 or visit www.SpringfieldMO.org.

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