A CASTLE IN PINOLE?
By Stella Faria, Courtesy of the Pinole Historical Society
Since my childhood, I have always
been fascinated by the building located
at 2131 San Pablo Avenue in Pinole. It
was directly across the street from the
house I first lived in when I married in
1947.
I knew it as the Pythian Castle,
which always seemed to have some
sort of mystery associated with its
name. Who would ever have dreamed
of having a castle in the little town of
Pinole?
It is a rather unique structure in
the 2100 block of San Pablo Avenue,
aside from the Curran family home a
few doors down (formerly the Garden
of Gems) and the relocated Faria
farmhouse across the street.
It is a white with blue trim woodframed
building with a gabled roof
and some stained glass windows, one
of which survived a gas-line explosion
next door on February 17, 1998. It
suffered blown-out windows and other
minor damage, but the building next
door that housed the Second Fiddle
thrift store,was completely leveled.
I have known it as the Pythian
Castle since I went there during
the 1930s for variety programs that
were put on by our local churches or
fraternal organizations who shared their
auditorium.
Fraternal organizations such as
Masons, Odd Fellows, Redmen,
Elks, Eagles, Woodmen, Knights of
Columbus, and Knights of Pythias,
were very popular in those days.
The Knights of Pythias has a very
long and colorful history. It became
a secret fraternal organization in
Washington, D.C., on February 19,
1864, founded by Justus Rathbone. Its
name came from a play, “Damon and
Pythias,” written by Irish poet John
Banim. Its legend illustrates the ideals
of loyalty, honor, and friendship that are
the center of the order.
When a man was inducted as a
member, he received a ceremonial
sword, presented as a token of esteem
by family members or business
associates. A local chapter was known
as a “castle.” I was a bit disappointed
to find that there was no fairytale
connection to my Pythian Castle.
Pinole’s First Methodist Episcopal
Church built this wooden structure in
1898 at 2131 San Pablo Avenue. When
the church built its second home on
Valley Avenue in 1924, the building
was sold to the Order of the Knights of
Pythias.
24 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM NOVEMBER 2017
Local Methodist church records
show that the first Protestant services in
Pinole were held from 1889 until April
24, 1898, at the site of the Plaza School,
where today’s post office stands.
Ministers from Presbyterian,
Methodist, and Baptist churches in
Richmond took turns preaching on
Sunday evenings.
There was also a Martinez-Pinole
connection when, from 1890 until the
new church building was dedicated
in 1898, Methodist ministers came to
preach on Sunday evenings.
Little is recorded about the building
once it became the Pythian Castle. It
was an Assembly of God church later
on and was occupied by Elaine Pond’s
Insurance agency for a couple of years.
The Scolari & Sons Tile Company ran
its business out of that building. The
present owner, Dennis Lorette, CPA,
purchased the building in 1984. He
shares his office there with several other
businesses. I am very grateful to Dennis
for providing me with information he
had on the early history of the building.
He loves the architecture and history
related to the building, and would
be proud to show you around if you
appreciate the building as much as he
does.
The remains of the Second Fiddle
thrift store, with the Pythian
Castle building at the right, after
the February 17, 1998, explosion.
Photo courtesy of Adila Araya.
Pythian Castle,
2131 San Pablo
Avenue,
Pinole