Venues
THE PYTHIAN BUILDING
Above Right: Postcard of the Masonic Temple (Pythian Building, north and east facades, 2002 Building), ca. 1911. Source: Nelson Photo Archive
Background In 1905, an article in the morning Oregonian announced plans for the new Masonic Temple. The new location would be served by nearby streetcar transit, but without the negative impacts of directly fronting onto the streetcar line. “The corner at West Park [SW 9th] and Yamhill where the grand lodge A.F. & A.M. will build is one block from Morrison and two blocks from the Eleventh Street line.”
The Masonic Temple’s original design was to be similar to that of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, also a Masonic organization. Richard H. Martin Jr., a Scottish Rite Mason, was the architect of both the Masonic Temple and the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Changes were made to the exterior of the new Masonic Temple, but the interior plans were to stay the same.
An early tenant on the ground floor was the Masonic Temple Grocery.
The structure was traded to the fraternal order, Knights of Pythias, in 1919 in exchange for their building and was renamed the Pythian Building. The Pythian Ballrooms were used for many years for high school proms and as a music venue for psychedelic rock concerts in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Pythian Building was used primarily by its affiliated organizations and activities. The Knights of Pythias moved from the building in the mid-1980s. The Pythian Building ballrooms are still available for weddings and other activities.
Architect: Richard H. Martin, Jr.
Martin was the son of a building contractor. He worked for Warren H. Williams in the 1880s and was a partner with Alexander Milwain before affiliating with William F. McCaw. He was in private practice from ca.1898-1934.
Among the designs of his and in partnership were the Armory, the Dekum Building, and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
At the time of his death in 1950, his obituary stated that he had been the oldest living Scottish Rite Mason.
Source: Historic Statement of Downtown Portland.
FIRST KNOWN USEAGE BY THE GAY COMMUNITY
1966 – Mama Bernice’s Sweethearts Ball
[Per the 1977 by W Holman for the Northwest Gay Review in A Gay History, lest it be forgotten. Cited on page 5 of the Special Issue]
1968 – Mama Bernice’s Sweetheart Ball
[No data on 1967 Mama Bernice’s Sweetheart Ball]
[Per the 1977 by W Holman for the Northwest Gay Review in A Gay History, lest it be forgotten. Cited on page 7 of the Special Issue it states “The well-attended affair was monitored by City Hall. This was no small party nor was it a group of alcoholic perverts chasing living life-forms Here was a well-disciplined, well-heeled (many were wearing them), and smartly dressed lot, happy and having a good time bothering no one and aloof to the bother they had been subject to.”
1969 – Mama Bernice’s Sweetheart Ball or was it called Valentine Sweetheart Ball?
The article below is from the Oregon Journal on February 20, 1969, page 3.
It appears the next time was when The Second Foundation of Oregon rented the Pythian Hall for part of the FIRST “Gay Pride Weekend” was In the July 1971 issue of The Oregon Fountain, on page 5 announced see below Left. Below Middle: The Gay Pride Week Dance is again mentioned on page 9, (July 1971 The Oregon Fountain Note: for one month The Fountain newspaper was called The Oregon Fountain) what is believed to be the first gay pride events in Oregon. Below Right: An ad appears on page 12 in the same July 1971 Oregon Fountain newspaper for Gay Pride Week.
Below: In the August 1971 issue of The Fountain, page 18 there is an article GAY PRIDE WEEK. See Gay Pride. Another event took place and that was the Debutante Ball 1972. See Organizations Imperial Rose Court of Portland Court System 1972
Per the Northwest Gay Review, page 16 Capital Failure, February 1974 “This is the site of the first Gay and Lesbian Pride celebration, coinciding with the second anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. The event, sponsored by the Second Foundation of Oregon, featured a rock band and same-sex dancing. Two hundred reportedly attended the dance in the upstairs ballroom. The Second Foundation later moved its offices to this building from 258 S.W. Alder but were forced to close them after its treasurer absconded with several thousand dollars needed to pay the rent.”
It appears that it wouldn’t be until two years later when the Community Center was forced out of its first home at 258 SW Alder as the Fire Marshall closed the facility down. Below is an article The Fountain newspaper, September 1973 page 3.
The Community Center moved into the Pythian Building in September 1973, and opened for business on October 12th. The lease was agreed upon with the Knights of the Pythias to lease the full five floors. The below is an article in the November 1973 article from The Fountain newspaper. Below Right: An ad that appeared in The Fountain newspaper at various times.
Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: This is the site of the first Gay and Lesbian Pride celebration coinciding with the second anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. The event sponsored by the Second Foundation of Oregon, featured a rock band, 1 same-sex dancing, and two hundred reportedly attended the dance which was held in the ballroom upstairs. The Second Foundation later moved its offices to this building from 258 S.W. Alder St., but were forced to close then after its treasurer absconded with several thousand dollars need to pay the rent.
By July 1973 the headline read “FOUNDATION OFFICER ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT” [The Fountain]. The Second Foundation of Oregon largest gay organization in the Pacific Northwest, found itself in deep trouble last month with up to $3,000 missing and a president who suddenly skipped town. By November a group was formed Six Under Inc. This was a group formed that sold ‘stock’ into the organization. Groups expressed interest in the complex: Second Foundation, the Portland Forum, Second Foundation Youth Alliance, Metropolitan Community Church, the list was long. Below is a notice in the Northwest Gay Review, November 1973.
November 1973 Walter W Cole/Darcelle held his step down and the Coronation of Empress XVI where Doni Lame was crowned.
By September 1974 though, with many financial woes and mishandlings, the Portland Gay Community Center closed its door. It was stated in the September 1974 issue of the Northwest Gay Review, “Portland’s gay community was just not prepared to handle that big (of) an operation).”
It wasn’t until 1977 when Mildred’s Palace opened on June 24, 1977 and occupied the space until 1979 when they lost their lease.
History: Lanny Swerdlow and a group of underage gay teenagers opened an underage LGBTQ nightclub called Mildred’s Palace at the Pythian Building in 1977 per Lanny 10/9/2021 email, “in the grand ballroom”.
citations & references:
Advertised in Northwest Gay Review June 1977 back page full ad and the July/August 1977 issue page 30
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1979 under Bars/Clubs with notations YC- Young Crowd, D – Dancing, AH – After Hours, WE – weekends, * - Very Popular with the note: (No Booze) (Disco) and Mildred’s is spelled, Milord’s.
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 under Bars/Clubs with notations YC- Young Crowd, D – Dancing, AH – After Hours, WE – weekends, * - Very Popular with the note: (No Booze) (Disco)
918 S.W. Yamhill