HISTORY:
The Pythian Castle in Bisbee was built by the Knights of Pythias in 1904, eight years before Arizona became a state. As built, the second floor, measuring 50' x 70', contained a large meeting hall (app. 50' x 25'), a banquet hall, kitchen and locker areas. The Pythians even installed a "Howard" clock in the fancy clock tower. Eventually, the Pythians moved on, and the building was used into the '50s as a miner's Union Hall. After a long period of disuse, the building suffered weather damage, vandalism, and the clock was removed. A government sponsored program came to Bisbee in the early '80s to stabilize historic structures, and the Castle was renovated to contain eight apartments. Work began in 2015,to restore the Pythian Castle to approximate the original interior design. The second floor now has the recreated meeting hall (50' x 25') across the front of the building, and a large 3BR 3 ensuite bath + half bath apartment with a large eat-in kitchen/ family room and laundry room in the rear section of the second floor. In the new renovation, the two first floor units are large, open, studio spaces each with kitchen and bath. A new clock, manufactured by the Electric Time Company, has been installed in the old clock tower, chiming the hour from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Completion is anticipated by November 2016.
