The Standard

Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Bazil Manietta

Pythian Castle, north of downtown, is certified haunted and has the usual voices, orbs and mass with no bodies.

It has prompted the Sci Fi channel to undergo a day long investigation and filming of ghostly activity of the castle that is set to air Oct. 31, on a show based on haunted orphanages called "Children of the Grave."

"They had voice recorders and things that detect temperature change from one spot to the next," Tamara Finocchiaro, owner of the castle, said. "It was really bizarre, they were actually talking to them and the ghosts would respond by hitting on pipes."

The castle was certified haunted by the Ozark Parnormal Society in 2005, the same year haunted tours were first given through it, Finocchiaro said.

The Knights of Pythias originally built the castle and it was used as an orphanage before being taken over by the U.S. Military. It is debatable when it was built, but they have established it as 1913, Finocchiaro said.

There is a dungeon below the castle where POW's were once kept. Behind the castle is a building also used for POW's, but it is now fenced off and is to be demolished.

There is a boiler room which leads to an underground tunnel now partially blocked off. The tunnel leads to the O'Reilly General Hospital which is no longer in use.

"It is not uncommon here to hear male or female voices, to bump into a mass, hear noises such as doors shutting or boxes being moved with no one around," Finocchiaro said.

The Sci Fi network investigators stayed at the castle for one day, Finocchiaro said.

Pythian Castle will hold a special Halloween tour that will focus on the ghostly activity of Pythian Castle and a ghost hunting workshop led by Steven LaChance, an extreme haunting specialist, and Gregory Myers from Missouri Paranormal Research.

There are tours of Pythian Castle given year-round Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. It costs $7.50 per person.

Pythian Castle will also host a Halloween dance party featuring salsa dancing.

Lessons in swing dancing, aerial arts and other activities are offered throughout the year.

Pythian Castle is located on Pythian Street off Glenstone Avenue.

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