Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-09
New Chapter House of the Vermont
Alpha of the Fraternity Now
Occupied by the Sigs.
The First Chapter House Owned by q
College Society in the University
Something as to Its History and
description Of the Building.

and somewhat exclusive society," but nine
chapters having been chartered lin addi-
ton to the parent society in as many
colleges. Its general catalogue. printed in
1891, is a bulky volume of $40 pages, con-
tanning the names and sketches of 1861
members to which number three or four
hundred names have since been added.
The society has probably about LOO living
members. 1t has been in some particulars
Il pioneer among the Greek-lettcr So
ceties, having been the first to wear a
pin as badge. the first to use a Mono
gram device; the first to print a The
saurus." with biographical notes concern
ing its members; the first to build a
chapter house; the first to establish a
society fund. Among the distinguished
members of the fraternity are, or have
been while living, such men as the Hon.
John Rigelow, United States minister to
France, and author; Elihu Root, secre-
tary of war; Major-Generals Butterfeld
and Hartrauft Andrew ID. White, diplo-
mat and president of Cornell University;
Presidents Upton and Strycker of Hamil-
ton and Buckham of L. V. NJ: Bishop
Charles T.. Cheney, John w. Brown,
author of "rhe Dunclad"; Chief Justice
Charles j. Folger who was also secretary
of the United States treasury; eminent
lawyers such as Alexander w. Bradford
John e. Parsons and r. y. Benedict of
New York; John Jay Knox, the banker
Albert 5. Kenny, paymaster-generalU L. S.
~. and many others eminent as scholars,
divincs, authors, soldiers, judges, United
States senators, congressman and edu-
Gators.
The Alpha of Vermont was chartered in
1%5. OF its charter members but one sur
wives in the person of the Hon. G.. G.
Benedict. 1t has some two hundred or
more living members. 1t received the
gift of a desirable lot on which to place a
t1lsit tnx ill
and Williams streets, from the late Mrs
Julia II. Spear. The society added some
land to this by purchase. The construc-
ton of the foundations commenced last
spring. and the corner stone was laid in
the night of the oath of June, 1902 1t is
practically completed. and the Sigs who
are to occupy it are moving in.
The house is three story structure
built in Colonial style from plans drawn
by Marcus I. Reynolds of Albany y. Y.
Mr.. Reynolds is a member of the frater-
nifty and was the architect of the elegant
Sigma Phi house at Williams College and
OF several other college fraternity houses
The main material is brick laid in "Flem-
ish bond" as it is called, with black head
ers. Its base is white marble with marble
coins at the corners and marble window
caps and window stills. The front entrance
is through a portco with four large Cor
inthian columns and marble steps leading
up to it, There is a spacious piazza on
the north side.
The inside arrangement Is for a general
moss as we'll as for study and sleeping
apartments. In the basement is a large
exercise room and a complete laundry
and kitchen. rhe kitchen IS one Of the best
equipped in the city. There is a spacious
kitchen pantry in the basement with a
lift to the buffers pantry on the first
floor, which has all modern conveniences
The dining room occupies tho whole west
end of the first floor. Its furniture is Of
chestnut of the mission" design. ~ith
green leather upholstering and green dra-
perios. 1t has a pressed brick fire place,
and martel, and plate rails extend en-
tr, ly around the room. The table will ac-
commodatc from 10 to Is. The dining room
was furnished complete, including table
linen and service, by the Sig sisters Of
this chapter
Folding doors lead from the dining room
to the library, which is on the north side.
to the reception hall at the front and
frcm the library to the main reception
room, which occupies the whole cast end
of the first floor.
The library is furnished in mission"
| style with red upholstery. 1t contains a
large reading table. book cases built into
the wall and two large mission" settles.
| The reception room has a hrc place of
| pressed brick. and is finished in Mission"
! style with blue draperics. The furnishings
were given by Mrs. Mary c. Wheeler as a
memorial to her step-sons, the late John
! b. and Lewis H. Wheeler A vestibulo
| leadS lito the reception man "hl'H IL ol
ample size. is finished i'll oak with brown
| draperics and contains large settle ri
oak. out of this reception nail is q lava
tory and retiring room. The windows ot
! the vestihule are fitted with loaded glass
which adds much to the beauty OF the
entrance.
| The woodwork of the tirst floor and OF
the halls of the second and third floors is
Of selected birch, rubbed to dead finish
| The electric fixtures throughout the build-
| ing are of old brass with ball globes
| There are siX-light chandeliers in each
| room on the first floor and all the room
arc fitted with electric lights.
\ stairway Of birch leads from the re-
ception hall to the second and third floors
on the south side. This is lighted on the
sides by windows and overhead by a
large skyliGht The architect has made
a very pleasing effect here.
The second floor has three double suites
| with n central study and separate bed
rooms. There is a bath and wash room or
| this floor. Each study Is furnished with
an all TOP desk and book case, and
| each bedroom is neatly fitted up with Al
iron bedstead. mattress. chiffonier, chairs
and n that comfort" There are ample
closets connected with each bedroom. The
| woodwork in the studies is whitewood
and the floors are Of Georgia pine
| throughout. Each study has a pressed
| hrIc,, tre nlace
hnishea III iumeu oah' ~ haS a tile ili'