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 | | Alpha Chapter History |
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| Alpha Chapter History |
The early days of Delta Rho Sigma (the forerunner of Alpha Chapter) have set forth in the opening chapter of this history. It was the original plan of Delta Rho Sigma to be an interfraternity organization and this policy was followed until 1915. Each social fraternity was limited to two. Consequently there was no need for a house and regular meetings were held on the first Tuesday of each month at the various fraternity houses.
Alpha chapter continued to operate as an interfraternity organization until 1914, although the original rule of accepting only two men from each social fraternity was not followed. But the idea of keeping the organization strictly interfraternity gradually died out and on March 21, 1914, the chapter voted that any member of the Agricultural College who has sophomore standing shall be eligible for Alpha Gamma Rho. A few non-fraternity men had been initiated previous to this, but it had never been a definite policy.
The chapter was incorporated and plans were made to open a house in the fall of 1915. A small house at 707 South Third Street was rented and September 28, 1915 the first meeting was held in the Alpha Chapter house. Ten men who were not members of other fraternities occupied the house and to this number several freshmen were added. No meals were served until later in the fall, but the group patronized a boarding club nearby where they had tables reserved. In the fall of 1916 the chapter moved into a larger and better house at 306 East Green Street.
During World War I Alpha Chapter developed financial troubles, and it was then that Nathan L. Rice took over as treasurer in 1917. Since there were only four men left on the campus in the fall of 1917 the house was sub-leased to the Student Army Training Corps. In September 1919 the members of the chapter returned to college, moved back into the fraternity house and pledged additional men, necessitating an annex which was rented at 308 East Green Street. On November 1, 1919, the Alpha Chapter Alumni Association was founded, with J.M. Kimman as president and Nathan Rice as treasurer. Each active member pledged $100, to be paid $25 per year while in college. Sufficient funds were on hand to purchase two 60-foot lots on Armory Street. Alpha Chapter served as host to the 13th Convention of the Fraternity April 28, 1921. During 1920-21 D.F. (Fuzzy) Lafuze served as editor of the Daily Illini. Fuzzy was later to become legal counsel of the AGR National Fraternity and composer of several fraternity songs. In 1925 the lots on Armory Avenue were exchanged for lots on Gregory Drive--the site of the new fraternity house which was built in the spring of 1927. This new brick fraternity home, which housed 34 men, soon became crowded and an addition was necessary.
In spite of the outbreak of World War II, as of February 1943 the chapter still had 36 actives and six pledges in the house. However, many of these men soon left for service and in the fall of 1943 the chapter house was rented to the ASTP Program to house service men. The ASTP occupancy lasted only a year and the house was rented to the Delta Phi Upsilon sorority for one year. During the war period the better furniture in the house was stored in the homes of several alumni. Early in 1945, with assistance of Sleeter Bull and other local alumni, a fund of $5,000 was raised for new furniture and equipment to reopen the house. By the spring of 1946 a number of members returned to the chapter and rush plans began to show results. However, the group did not get back into the chapter house until the fall of 1946; after three years absence. The house bill had been $50 per month in pre-war days, but it was necessary to raise this to $70 when reopened. In the fall of 1947 there were 40 actives and 12 pledges living in the house and eight members living outside. In 1948 it was decided to build a library and the old card room was outfitted with bookcases to become the new library. In 1951-52, 49 men were occupying the house which had a rated capacity of only 36. At that time the house mortgage stood at $18,000, and the active chapter voted $4,000 for remodeling of second and third floor bathrooms. During 1952-53 this remodeling was completed. In 1955-56 Alpha Chapter won the National Fraternity Awards for activities and the outstanding Chapter Crescent, while ranking second on the Illinois campus in scholarship. In April, 1961, an addition to the house was begun; including a new kitchen, dining room, bathroom and dormitory room for an additional 23 men. In 1963 when Sleeter Bull resigned as Grand Secretary, he was the guest of honor at the annual faculty barbecue. Over 140 faculty, alumni and wives attend the occasion. |
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