Old Westminster University (Westminster, Colorado)
Located atop a hill with sweeping views of the surrounding suburbs, this Richardsonian Romanesque edifice stands at 3455 West 83rd Avenue. It was built in 1892 using the designs of architects E.B. Gregory and Stanford B. White of McKim, Mead & White. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The structure is commonly known as the Westminster Castle or "The Pillar of Fire." It has a colorful history, starting as a small Presbyterian school, and later becoming affiliated with the White nationalist Pillar of Fire Church in the 1920s.
Due to the Panic of 1893, Westminster University did not open until the fall of 1908. In less than a decade, the entry of the United States into World War I resulted in further hardship, and the ultimate closure of the Presbyterian-run school.
Bishop Alma Bridwell White of the Pillar of Fire Church, purchased the campus for $40,000.00 on January 31, 1920. In the early 20th century, Pillar of Fire, which still exists, was known for its support for women's rights. However, at the same time, it was known for supporting the Ku Klux Klan and its racist platform. This campus was frequently used for Ku Klux Klan meetings and cross burnings.
The building is now a part of the Belleview Christian Childcare & Pre-school. It also continues to house KPOF (or K Pillar of Fire), a Christian talk radio station with its roots in the 1920s movement.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Castle
Westminster, Colorado is a suburb of Denver, located to the north of that city in western Adams County.
Old Westminster University (Westminster, Colorado)
Located atop a hill with sweeping views of the surrounding suburbs, this Richardsonian Romanesque edifice stands at 3455 West 83rd Avenue. It was built in 1892 using the designs of architects E.B. Gregory and Stanford B. White of McKim, Mead & White. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The structure is commonly known as the Westminster Castle or "The Pillar of Fire." It has a colorful history, starting as a small Presbyterian school, and later becoming affiliated with the White nationalist Pillar of Fire Church in the 1920s.
Due to the Panic of 1893, Westminster University did not open until the fall of 1908. In less than a decade, the entry of the United States into World War I resulted in further hardship, and the ultimate closure of the Presbyterian-run school.
Bishop Alma Bridwell White of the Pillar of Fire Church, purchased the campus for $40,000.00 on January 31, 1920. In the early 20th century, Pillar of Fire, which still exists, was known for its support for women's rights. However, at the same time, it was known for supporting the Ku Klux Klan and its racist platform. This campus was frequently used for Ku Klux Klan meetings and cross burnings.
The building is now a part of the Belleview Christian Childcare & Pre-school. It also continues to house KPOF (or K Pillar of Fire), a Christian talk radio station with its roots in the 1920s movement.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Castle
Westminster, Colorado is a suburb of Denver, located to the north of that city in western Adams County.