Local History of Beta Nu Chapter

Sigma Tau Delta

Beta Nu Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity started life as a local fraternity known as Sigma Tau Delta. Sigma Tau Delta was originally a secret society founded at Case Institute of Technology in 1906. The fraternity was founded because it was felt that other fraternities were using their influence over student activities for their own purposes, and not to benefit the school as a whole.

The founders of Sigma Tau Delta were A.J. Bohrer, Fred W. Fiehl, George K. Sauerwine, and F.K. Zeichman. Sigma Tau Delta announced its existence in 1908, and was incorporated by the state of Ohio in 1909.

In 1925, the Sigma Tau Delta Finance Corporation was founded to provide housing for the chapter. The Finance Corporation also provided loans to alumni. Stock was sold in the corporation, and it remained active until 1972. A sign of its financial viability was its purchase of a house for the chapter in 1935, during the great depression, and in 1942, during World War II.

All the secrets and documents of Sigma Tau Delta were lost in 1931 when we became a chapter of . . .

Beta Kappa

Sigma Tau Delta decided that in order to remain competitive, they needed to become part of a strong national fraternity. Beta Kappa was selected, and on December 29th, 1931, we were installed as Alpha Nu chapter. The installation was conducted by Xi Chapter from Allegheny, which would later becom Beta Chi chapter of Theta Chi.

Beta Kappa was originally a high school organiziation called "BOSK". It was founded in 1901 at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and incorporated in 1912.

In 1935, Alpha Nu hosted the National Conclave of Beta Kappa. Unfortunately, the depression hurt Beta Kappa, and with the threat of war, Beta Kappa looked for a stronger fraternity to merge with. A choice was made, and all 47 Beta Kappa chapter at that time were given the option of either becoming local fraternities, or becoming chapters of . . .

Theta Chi

Theta Chi was selected by Beta Kappa as the national fraternity whose ideals most closely matched their own. 17 chapters of Beta Kappa opted to become chapters of Theta Chi. The official merger of Beta Kappa and Theta Chi took place on April 14, 1942. We were installed as Beta Nu chapter of Theta Chi on May 16, 1942, by J.C. Stevens, Theta Chi national counselor and installation chair. The initiation of members was conducted by Alpha Tau and Beta Lambda chapters.

The first president of Beta Nu chapter of Theta Chi was Edward Kovachy, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Halle mansion on Bellflower (now the site of the George S. Dively Executive Education Center). With the onset of World War II, most brothers entered the service, but at the end of the war, many brothers returned. Vince Costanzo was our first post-war president.

Our most famous alumnus, Donald Knuth, was an active in the late 1950's. He has written many texts on computer science, and has received the highest award for science in this country, the Congressional Medal of Science.

In 1962, it was announced that all fraternities must sell their houses and give the University $60,000 to renovate a southside residence hall for them. In 1968, our house was purchased for $41,000, and we were "temporarily" moved into 1575 Mistletoe Dr. until the residence hall was ready. In 1972, the University abandoned all plnas to build any more southside residence halls. Also in 1972, the Sigma Tau Delta Finance corporation disbanded, and all remaining funds were transferred to the newly established Theta Chi Housing Corporation.

Beta Nu shrank to only a few members in the mid-70's, due to problems among members and with the University, and we were briefly placed on probation by the national office during this period. But morale has improved, and this chapter has been steadily progressing ever since.

In 1986, the University bulldozed the Mistletoe house to make room for a soccer field. The field was never built, because the lease specified that if any trees were destroyed, the University would lose the land. (Eight years later, tennis courts have been built on the lot, which left all of the trees intact.) We were moved into our present location at 11136 Magnolia Drive, and the $40,000 paid to the University in 1968 was recovered to pay for renovations.

Places We Have Lived

2088 Cornell (1910)
2117 Adelbert (1917)
2256 Cummings (1922)
11431 Euclid (1924)
2088 Cornell (1932)
2077 Cornell (1933)
1719 E. 115th St. (1935)
11240 Bellflower Rd. "Halle Mansion" (1943)
1575 Mistletoe Dr. (1968)
11136 Magnolia Dr. (1986, present)

With the exception of our current house, none of these houses are still standing.

Edited and maintained by Ian McIntire (imm@po.cwru.edu)