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As I have gotten around to exploring Socorro, I ended up where many who look for new friends, and new experiences do: The Capitol Bar. I was intrigued because of the history of the building, and wanted to see it myself. I also looked at their menu and decided based on reviews that I would stop in on a Friday night for a pizza and a drink. While there I ran into a giant old dog, who immediately decided we were best friends. While I was giving him a good head rub, his dad came to greet me. This was when I met the eccentric fellow, F*n Dave.
I could tell this guy was a local legend just on how everyone who walked in came to greet him, we got to talking about why I was in town and I described my work here at the Chieftain. After having a chat about photography and his past photography career, I of course, started discussing how interested I was in the history around Socorro and how that is the reason I was at “The Cap” that night.
He started telling me about how his home was in a historical building and how I must have seen it if I was driving around, it is off the plaza, and not only boasts his name across the building, but a giant rooster sits on the roof, at night, a giant sun lights up the front of the building. He also told me how he bought an old church which piqued my interest.
The following week, after work, I decided to stop over there for a tour and it was an experience, and that is an understatement. From a shower covered in his past photography, and I mean decades of work, to tunnels that go from one building to the church next door, and an antique camera collection, it seemed like every room had something new and interesting to look at.
Walking through the old church was an experience, Dave told me what he knew about the place and his experiences remodeling the space. His wife, who was lovely and so sweet, was looking for a book for me about the building, but wasn’t able to find it. So, after my walk through of the building I did some of my own research based on the facts that Dave was able to tell me.
Once again the Socorro County Historical Society came in clutch, with photos of the church when it was previously the Church of the Epiphany, an Episcopal church. The church had its first service in 1892, by 1961 the little church on Fisher avenue boasted 106 parishioners. The large congregation moved to an area across from New Mexico Tech in 1969.
The building’s history doesn’t end there however, as it was eventually bought by the Knights of Pythias and used as a meeting space. The ladies auxiliary, or “Pythian Sisters” used the 80’s style kitchen to make meals, and Dave has kept the kitchen looking mostly the same. This organization puts off an air of being mysterious, somewhat like the Freemasons, but in reality it was just a group that worked to help their community and bring people together. Sure, there may have been a skeleton involved in some of their meeting rituals, but their principals were friendship, charity and benevolence. They worked towards being charitable and having social programs for their members. The Knights of Pythias still exists today and their Supreme Lodge gives many of their donations to The American Cancer Society.
I really appreciate Dave being so hospitable and allowing me to tour this historical building that is now the home of him and his wife. Now if our readers pass by it, you will know some of the history behind this bizarre building.
