Can you believe 34 brothers moved into me August 27?! And, the chapter has 86 actives with rush under way. I cannot wait to see the 90+ alumni who will be here for my dedication on October 1. Won’t they be proud! I understand Aaron Otto ΔΧ National “AA” and Michael Martinez, Chief Development Officer, DX Educational Foundation will be coming. This is a big deal for our Michigan chapter.
As you look at photos of me, remember my history. I was first assembled in 1906 for a geology professor’s family. My fun really began when Joe Laachia “BB” from Michigan State and Hank deKoning ‘32, then leader of our Building Corporation, arranged the loan and guarantees that helped buy me for $38,150 in July 1948 from the Episcopal Diocese for the Delta Chi Chapter House. The stories I could tell as I watched hundreds of teenagers develop into strong Delta Chi men would excite (and perhaps embarrass) you.
While being the Chapter House was great, I was really getting weary. My interior was butchered to meet the Ann Arbor fire codes, my mechanical and electrical systems were tired, and some of the brothers didn’t take very good care of me. I was worried I might die, but John Levinson ‘73 and the Alumni Building Corp. plus the Alumni Board of Trustees began to dream of a new me in 2007. I was excited to see the drawings of what I could be, yet nothing was really happening.
Finally, along came the team of David Falconer ‘63, Howard Gandelot ‘64, Keith Hellems ‘62 and Frank Morrey ’64. They claimed they could raise $1 million to build a new me. Wow! I thought maybe it would really happen! With the gang of four communicating with the alumni and John Levinson on point with Alpha Design+Build team, the fundraising and design work began in earnest. So far, 168 alumni and friends have helped provide the funds. I disappeared in a cloud of dust on June 30, 2015. I can tell you, being loaded into trucks and going to a landfill hurt like hell, but I knew what was coming.
The new me began with the pouring of 171 yards of concrete for my feet on August 17. By the end of March, my roof was finally finished. Fortunately it was not too cold or wet during my winter construction. My daddy, Dean Warner, Alpha’s construction manager, organized and supervised all the crafts to ensure I would be well built and beautiful. Dean really did a great job spending the $3.3 million it cost to build me, as you can see from the pictures. At 17,000 square feet, I am three times bigger than the old me. Now, I can continue to be the fantastic, modern Chapter House for hundreds of current and future Delta Chis. I am really proud to serve! And very, very thankful to those that made it possible!
Sincerely,
Your Chapter House, 1705 Hill Street
