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Historical marker for The Pythian Temple, sponsored by the Plessy and Ferguson Foundation; The architecturally acclaimed Pythian Temple building at 234 Loyola Avenue (formerly South Saratoga) is one o

Historical marker for The Pythian Temple, sponsored by the Plessy and Ferguson Foundation; The architecturally acclaimed Pythian Temple building at 234 Loyola Avenue (formerly South Saratoga) is one of New Orleans' storied landmarks. From 1908 to 1941, members of the Knights of Pythias, under the leadership of Smith W. Green, served as a beacon of pride for African Americans during the segregation era of Jim Crow. In June of 1908, the Pythians laid their cornerstone at Gravier and Saratoga Streets. In August of 1909, Green opened the Pythian Temple at a cost of over $200,000. The dedication ceremonies featured orchestral music and selections by the St. James A.M.E. choir and glee club of the Dryades Street YMCA. Black lawyer, J. Madison Vance - a 1912 delegate to the Republican National Convention - engendered frequent applause as he spoke of the "Power of Organization and its effects upon Civilization." The Times-Picayune described the Pythian Temple as "the biggest business enterprise ever attempted by the colored race in the United States."

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Pythian at 234 Loyola Avenue
Historical marker for The Pythian Temple, sponsored by the Plessy and Ferguson Foundation; The architecturally acclaimed Pythian Temple building at 234 Loyola Avenue (formerly South Saratoga) is one of New Orleans' storied landmarks. From 1908 to 1941, members of the Knights of Pythias, under the leadership of Smith W. Green, served as a beacon of pride for African Americans during the segregation era of Jim Crow. In June of 1908, the Pythians laid their cornerstone at Gravier and Saratoga Streets. In August of 1909, Green opened the Pythian Temple at a cost of over $200,000. The dedication ceremonies featured orchestral music and selections by the St. James A.M.E. choir and glee club of the Dryades Street YMCA. Black lawyer, J. Madison Vance - a 1912 delegate to the Republican National Convention - engendered frequent applause as he spoke of the "Power of Organization and its effects upon Civilization." The Times-Picayune described the Pythian Temple as "the biggest business enterprise ever attempted by the colored race in the United States."
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