A Forgotten Fraternal Powerhouse
Today, the name Knights of Pythias might sound like a medieval fantasy or a tongue-twister. But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was one of the largest and most influential fraternal orders in America. Inspired by the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias—an allegory of loyalty, honesty, and friendship—the order emphasized charitable and social ideals. By 1900, it was the third-largest fraternal organization in the United States. That same year, Plainfield’s chapter erected its distinctive “castle” at 115 West Main Street.
Origins of the Order in Plainfield
- First Lodge (No. 50) organized: July 1874, disbanded in 1875.
- Reorganized in 1890 with 28 members.
- By 1895, membership rose to 100.
- The Plainfield Progress lamented that the lodge still paid $100/year in rent and longed for a permanent home.
Construction of the Castle
- 1899: The lodge bought the lot from Julia Holderman.
- A narrow frame structure then stood on the property, housing:
- Post office
- Barber
- Meat shop
- Shed
- 1900: The existing building was razed, and the new castle-like structure was built.
- Two datestones on the façade commemorate:
- 1890 – the lodge’s reestablishment
- 1900 – the building’s construction
Layout and Use of Space
Third Floor: Lodge Hall
- Used by the Knights of Pythias for meetings until ~1949.
- 1912: A suite of club rooms was added:
- Pool table
- Tabletop game areas
- Sofas and lounge chairs
Second Floor: Civic and Cultural Hub
- Split between:
- Auditorium (known as the Plainfield Opera House)
- Town Hall offices
- Hosted:
- High school plays
- Graduations
- Traveling shows (e.g., occult magician Dwight Hagaman in 1907)
- Used by the American Legion from 1921 onward.
Office Tenants:
- Horace Hanna (law office, 1904–1914)
- Dr. Samuel Merrick (optometrist and jeweler)
- Dr. Chester Miller (dentist)
First Floor: Business Central
West Side: The Post Office
- Postmaster Taylor Reagan secured federal funding by mailing before-and-after photos.
- Post office moved in 1901, relocated in 1925 to 114 West Main Street.
East Side: Prewitt’s → Spot Cash Store
- Joseph Prewitt & Co. ran a general store with:
- Clothing
- Toiletries
- Wallpaper
- Shoes
- 1906 promotion: Mr. and Mrs. N.G.W. Winner (little people) drew customers from up to 12 miles away. While acceptable then, this now seems exploitative and inappropriate.
Business Succession:
- 1910: Prewitt sold the store to Fred Breedlove and Albert Barlow → renamed Spot Cash Store.
- 1928: Barlow died in a tragic train collision; Breedlove took full ownership.
- 1944: Breedlove died; wife Myrtle briefly took over, then sold to:
- L.B. Hundley (1945)
- Charles Davis (1947)
- Stella Smith (1949) – renamed it back to Spot Cash Store
- Store remained until 1963, then became the Plainfield Fabric Shop.
The Barbershop Legacy (1925–1974)
- Post office space converted to a barbershop in 1925.
- Gus Krebs (later sons Guy & Lowell) ran the business.
- Followed by:
- Palace Barbershop
- Pruitt Barbershop
Upper Floor Activity in the Mid-20th Century
- 1949 renovation:
- Combined rooms for larger events
- Refinished floors for expanded dance space
- Added restrooms
- Hosted:
- Dances
- Boy Scouts
- VFW meetings
- Kids’ Paradise Recreation Hall
Changing Tenants: 1960s–2000s
- 1963: Cedric and Lucille Lyons bought the Spot Cash Store, renamed it Lyons Department Store. Closed the same year after Cedric’s sudden death.
- 1964–1970: Plainfield Fabric Shop
- 1970–1975: Mary Carter Paint and Wallpaper
- 1975–1978: Beswick’s Photography Studio
- 1978–1982: Fantasy Photography and Frames
- 1983: Arvin and Iva Lamberson sold the building to First American National Bank, which used it as an operations center.
- 1994: Ownership passed to Mid Realty Corporation, then to Main Street R.E. LLC.
- 2007: Success Express trophy shop arrived.
- Later replaced by Flowered Occasions, a florist.
The Building Today
In late 2024, the building was sold once again. The new owners will open Roots the Market, featuring a butcher shop, fresh baked breads, local produce, dairy, cheeses, and deli favorites, and specialty goods. An event space is planned for the upper floors.
While many today focus on the street-level façade, it’s important to remember this building was Plainfield’s original skyscraper—towering above its neighbors and acting as a hub of civic life, business, entertainment, and fraternal society.
For a more detailed history of this building, be sure to check out Sarah Wright’s book, 50 Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana, available for check-out or purchase.
