Nomination for Pythian Temple and James Pythian Theater

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms and/or common street & number 861-867 Mt. Vernon Avenue - not for publication city, town - vicinity of - unoccupied -district X building(s) X private X commercial - structure - work in progress _site _object _ in process - yes: restricted X yes: unrestricted street & number 1133 Wisconsin Boulevard 410 South High Street has this property been determined elegible? - -yes X no depository for survey records Ohio Historic Preservation Office, I-71 & 17th Avenue 049 museum code both date transportation government Category Accessible military educational 1. Name Ownership entertainment Dayton agriculture 2. Location other: Inventory-Nomination Form religious industrial park Status Columbus public received date entered 12th scientific private residence being considered 5.

Location of Legal Description congressional district Public Acquisition 3. Classification 6. Representation in Existing Surveys 4. Owner of Property Type all entries-complete applicable sections courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Franklin County Court House National Register of Historic Places For HCRS use only Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Present Use nameMost Worshipful Grand Lodge, State of Ohio, c/o Herbert Matthews York Rite Masonic Temple Ohio Xstate OCT 27 19883 1975 county Franklin -local 7. Description X original site X altered _moved .fair This is a 4-story brick and concrete structure, rectangular in plan, with an asymmetrically-arranged, eclectic facade, reminiscent of the Colonial Revival. doors having voids with round-arched openings and glazing in a Colonial motif.

The entire facade is little altered from the original, except for the loss of and third story the windows are simple, flat-arched, with leaded glass transoms. ical arched openings, the middle of which has a delicately-executed leaded glass fanlight, characteristic of Colonial Revival detailing. These windows are also length of the facade directly below the cornice level. The cornice area itself flank the main entrance; at the time of the building's dedication in 1926, these a large public auditorium capable of seating 1000. The fourth floor is laid out for individual lodge meeting rooms. itself. ruins date deteriorated unexposed excellent unaltered Describe the present and original (if known)physical appearance

Description of the property

Condition Check one the words,"Pythian Temple"are incised into a stone beltcourse which runs the The storefront area features 4 bays, two of which serve storerooms on the first story. The center bay contains the entrance to the theatre, through 2 double fixed transoms with diamond-shaped glazing. The windows on the upper stories The fourth story is clearly the most highly articulated, with broad, semi-ellipt- set off by plain stone pilasters set singly and in pairs. Exterior ornament is also executed in terra cotta. Above the main entrance, on the second story, features a blind balustrade and five finials set to divide the bays on the facade The interior of the building is as varied as is its exterior. Iwo storefronts housed a barber shop and a drug store. The e is a 650-seat theater on the first story and in the rear portion of the second.

The third story contains X good Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - archeology-prehistoric community planning _ landscape architecture. _ religion - archeology-historic _ conservation - agriculture - economics X architecture exploration/settlement _ X 1900- - politics/government Evans & Plato, Louisville, Kentucky, arch't Statement of

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Criteria A & C center for Columbus' Black population from the time of its construction. Additionally building in the city of Columbus known to have been designed bya Black architect. neo-Adamesque semi-elliptical arched windows, delicate leaded glass transoms, atten- the Mt. Vernon Avenue area was firmly established as a Black neighborhood. This handsome building was erected for use as a Black lodge and theater, and has remained The building was designed by the Louisville, Kentucky, firm of Evans and Plato, and is the only building in Columbus known to have been designed by this office. Nothing is known of architect Evans; Samuel Plato, however stands as an important Black architect/builder who was active in Louisville for more than thirty years.

He was a graduate of Simmons University, a local Black institution, for which he designed sections of the United States, and was the first Black to receive U.S. Post Office Marion, Indiana, the First Baptist Church, also in Marion, Post offices in Frankfort, is the only known example of his work in Columbus. the 1870s, the black community gradually moved to the east and became firmly established 1800-1899 1500-1599 1600-1699 communications 1400-1499 1700-1799 transportation commerce humanitarian industry invention engineering Period theater 8. Significance Builder/Architect literature military music science prehistoric law New York and in Decatur, Alabama, and numerous Louisville buildings. The Pythian Temple L. L.

LeVeque, Columbus, Ohio, contractor greats such as Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, the Cotton Club Dancers, Specific dates 1925-1926 sculpture Steward Hall in the 1920s. Beginning in 1919, he built over forty post offices in all a fraternal and social center for the neighborhood to this day. Through the years, education association with this important social organization and through its location. came the heart of the Columbus black community and remains so today.The Pythian Temple the structure possesses a high degree of significance since it is the only historic therefor reflects the central focus of this black heritage in the city through its contracts.

His work also included residences, churches, apartment buildings, and The building's Colonial Revival appointments are evident in its facade with The Pythian Temple is nominated for its an example of the in the Mt.Vernon Avenue neighborhood by the 1920s.This movement stabilized and be- Colonial --most its position as a major community - - philosophy X social/ - - other(specify) -art the theater has been used for vaudeville, movies, and performances by entertainment and the Black and Tan Review. uated pilasters, and a stylized balistrade at the parapet level. By the mid 1920s, offices.His work includes the John Schaumleffel and J.Wood Wilson Houses in commercial district in the l870s.As the central business district pushed outward in A sizable black populace was first established in Columbus in the Long and High 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Oral interview w/ Matthew Brock, Columbus, Ohio Columbus Dispatch, June 7, 1925, and April 18, 1926. Louisville [Kentucky] Courier Journal, 28 July,1941. 10. Geographical Data Quadrangle name Southeast Colunbus, Chio UMT References 224, p. 595, Franklin County Recorder's Office. 11. Form Prepared By Bess. L. Jones, Patricia E. Lewis, and H. E. Burks, members York Rite Building Association, AND David Taylor, Executive Director date 21 February, 1983 Ohio 43215 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Xlocal As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

county Easting date code Northing Zone state name/title national Columbus Attest: Chief of Registration List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries State Historic Preservation Officer signature Keeper of the National Register I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register organization Columbus Landmarks Foundation The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: Quadrangle scale1:24000 city or town For HCRS use only Mitchell and llatson East Grove Addition of the City of Colunbus, as recorded in Deed Book street & number GPO 938 835 22 North Front Street HPO WASO Form - 177 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Pythian Temple and James Pythian Theater Fed. Reg.

Date: nomination by person or local government owner objection Federal Agency: _ J appeal -sample -request - NR decision Reviewer's comments: . see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _ technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? 7. Description Check one -excellent - unaltered - original site -ruins - moved -unexposed summary paragraph - boundary selection resubmission completeness Category yes alterations/integrity Condition Date Discipline Status Reviewer Working No.

deteriorated fair OHIO clarity Accessible Substantive Review: Franklin County Recom./Criteria Describe the present and original (if known)physical appearance Present Use ("R"June 1984) OCT 27 1983 Date Due: 1/24/83 Entered in the - Ownership RETURN Action: LACCEPT Public Acquisition 8. Significance Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph I relating significance to the resource I relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception Other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: State Historic Preservation Officer signature - Photographs Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - - Phone: - Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Date Builder/Architect Signed context completeness title local state national Maps justification of areas checked UTM References Quadrangle name Specific dates applicable criteria clarity Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Period Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio THEATER window treatment Facade (detail), showing YORK RIT MASONIC TEMPLE THEATER facade SE perspective showing complete Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio WHO THEN LEARN SAVED CAN BE Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio February, 1983 Patricia E.

Lewis Negs: NR Property Owner view: stage and opera box - west wall Pythian Temple & James Pythian Theatre Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio Patricia E. Lewis Negs: NR Property Owner view: theatre lobby Pythian Temple & James Pythian Theatre February, 1983 February, 1983 Patricia E. Lewis Negs: NR Property owner view: entrance doors to lobby of theatre Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio Pythian Temple & James Pythian Theatre DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SOUTHEAST COLUMBUS QUADRANGLE 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) OHIO-FRANKLIN CO. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SOUTHEAST COLUMBUS, OHIO N3952.5w8252.5/7.5 northing 4426210 UTM Reference: October 17, 1983 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief 1100 L Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240 Joyce, Jacob.

O, House Elliot House (Patáskala MRA) Ray Luce WRL/BAP: rs Enclosures Hamilton Montgomery Resubmissions Franklin Licking Columbiana Mahoning Times-Star Building Ohio Historic Preservation Office Sincere County National Park Service Scioto Second Street Historic District Near East Side Historic District- Normandy Farms Enclosed are nine new National Register nominations and three resubmissions. questing an expeditious review of the nomination Parsons Avenue Admendment Betts Longworth Historic District New Nominations Orton Memorial Laboratory National Register of Historic Places White Bridge OCT 27 1983 Department of the Interior All the appropriate notification procedures have been followed for the new Dear Carol: Salem China Company Pataskala Presbyterian Church (Pataskala MRA) Pythian Temple and James Pythian Theatre Please call if you have any questions.

State Historic Preservation Officer Ohio Historical Center I-71& 17th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 (614) 466-1500 Please note that the Times-Star Building, Cincinnati, Hamilton County includes letters from the property owner and the mayor of Cincinnati waiving their right to comment on the are re-