MIRROR //8
Greek House Aesthetic
Any look at Dartmouth’s campus would be lacking without acknowledging the presence of Greek houses. Despite claiming to have unique personas, the sturdy brick and looming columns are standard. However, a look below the surface reveals more individuality and aesthetic thought than meets the eye. By Lauren Budd
In the early 1900s, many fraternities purchased modest frame houses or had brothers build their own. However, the onset of the economic boom of the roaring 20s led Zeta Psi, Kappa Kappa Kappa, Phi Sigma Kappa (now Phi Tau), Sigma Nu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Chi Phi (now Chi Heorot), Theta Delta Chi, Phi Gamma Delta (now Sigma Delta), Sigma Chi (now Tabard), Gamma Delta Chi and Delta Tau Delta (now Gamma Delta Chi) to build their own lavish brick houses, thus creating what we now know as frat row. However, the Great Depression brought all building projects to a halt, and four now-defunct fraternities dissolved completely. During World War II, many Greek houses were used to house Navy sailors and Marines.
PHOTOS BY SEAMORE ZHU
Early Greek House Construction Timeline 1896 The privately owned building that would eventually become Alpha Chi Alpha is built, Epsilon Kappa Theta is built for a professor’s residence, Sigma Phi Epsilon is constructed but is privately owned until 1953. 1853 Construction begins on Zeta Psi but is incomplete until 1925.
1902 Phi Delta Theta (now Phi Delta Alpha) becomes the first fraternity with a physical residence on Webster Avenue. 1915 1902-1908 Kappa Sigma (now Chi Gamma Epsilon) burns down. Dartmouth legend says that Psi Upsilon is constructed. Phi Delta Alpha was the culprit. 1898 Delta Delta Delta (now Chi Delta) is constructed as a faculty duplex. It was previously occupied by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and College substance-free housing. Delta Upsilon (a now-defunct fraternity) is built, now occupied by Kappa Delta Epsilon.
1924 Theta Delta Chi is constructed. 1925 Tri-Kap’s third and current residence is constructed, Sigma Nu is constructed.
1920s Amarna moves to East Wheelock Street, Kappa Kappa Gamma is constructed.
1931 Beta Theta Pi (now Beta Alpha Omega) is built, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is constructed. 1932 Sigma Chi (now Tabard) is constructed.
1929 Delta Tau Delta (now Bones Gate) is rebuilt after a fire, Chi Heorot is built.
1940 Alpha Theta builds a new house after a furnace leak in the old house kills nine house members.