Where Are They Buried?
 

Brothers,

I need help with some research that I am doing about famous Lambda Chis.

Late Summer, 2003, my wife and I visted Swansea, Mass., the birthplace of Warren A. Cole, to try to find his burial site. We did find what we believed to be his family burial plot- but no Warren A. Cole!

I would like to know where our Founder is buried.

I would also be interested in knowing where Jack Mason, Duke Flad, Lynn Lightner, and other important Lambda Chi figures are buried.

Any help would be greatly appreciated by me.

Thanks in advance,

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Z-U Zeta

There are no remains of any influential LXA buried on the Gamma Zeta property...nope...not a single one. So don't bother looking...cause you won't find any. Nope, there are no part of the remains of any LXA which headquarters doesn't know about located within the property of the former Gamma Zeta. There is absolutely nothing buried underneath the house during the additions in the 30's and 40's. :cool: There are no secrets under the house....not a single one....nothing special there....so don't bother looking.

Nope, there is no secret passed on from ritualist to ritualist, year to year, about something special and secret located on the former Gamma Zeta property.

*whistles*

Ok, You Got My Curiousity Goin'!
 

GammaZeta,

Do I feel my leg being pulled? What is the story behind this story?

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Z-U Zeta

No story behind the story...there is no story here. I, being a former Gamma Zeta ritualist, would have no knowledge of the contents, or the whereabouts, of a box which holds any items of significant and historical value to the national LXA fraternity located within the former Gamma Zeta property or has any "direct" connections to some of our founding members. Nope...nothing here. There is not a secret passed down from each Gamma Zeta ritualist (and occasionally the President when there was lack of a ritualist) that is around or older than 75 years old...nope...nothing.

*whistles*

Brother Mike, I cannot imagine that someone such as George S wouldnt know where Duke, Jack and Lynn are interned and maybe others.

That is if you can get through to Him.:)

Good luck and keep us updated on your quest!!:cool:

Does bring up some interesting points though!

To GammaZeta
 

Ve Have VAYS Of Making You Talk!!

LOL!

Every chapter has their own traditions and secrets. Gamma Zeta was the first so naturally our secrets are a little more interesting and historically relevant than a chapter founded 5 or 10 years ago.

I myself love to research secret societies, like the Skull and Bones, Masons, etc.

Gamma Zeta disbanded at 1500 members in about 75 years (estimate) so that averages to about 20 active members a year. If five members graduate every year, then to maintain the average there would be 5 new members. Skull and Bones take in 10 new members a year making Gamma Zeta more exclusive! :D :cool:

I am aware of many of the original practices and secrets of our fraternity that have not been performed or spoken about due to the evolution of our fraternity. I know Alpha hasn't had as consistent a history as Gamma to carry on traditions, but I'm sure Beta and some of the earlier chapters have theirs.

Our fraternity was much different before the TKN merger. Let's just say there is still alot of history and items about or founding and early years that even headquarters doesn't know about.

Huh? 1500 members over 75 years averages to 20 NEW members per year. Five per year would add up to only 375. No?

I never claimed to be a math genius!!!! LOL!!!!:D

The way I though about it was like this:

We had 1500 members initiated,

we were in operation about 75 years,

so 1500 / 75 = 20 members each year

(please don't ask me to figure out your mortgage's compound interest!!!!!)

Obviously some years we had more, some less. But if you take 20 members, 5 freshman, 5 sophmores, 5 juniors and 5 seniors, each year 5 seniors graduate, then 5 more the next year replace them.

God Damn! This is beginning to sound like the SATS!!!

Hey, any smart kids from W.P.I or M.I.T or Cal Tech on here!?!?

So exactly how would you figure out the average new membership each year needed to maintain the house average?

Ok, so I may not be able to do your taxes, but I can outline the lasting effect Puritan settlers of the 1600's had on state and federal laws throughout American history.

Please oh Please do not be come Puritanical!!!!!!:rolleyes:

I am not a Purist or tanical type person. I am geettting De Shakes just from reading this!:eek:

Since when did Legal Types try to be mathimatical gurus?:rolleyes:

Oh, I forgot about Legalese Fees!:D

Hmm,

Im curious to know the burial sites of the "founders" too....but
I don't think its really "Lambda Chi" tradition to "deify" its
founders....maybe nobody mentions such locations because
we don't want them to become shrines or tourist attractions,
visited by freaks, er um, history buffs like us :D

Shucks, the name "Warren A Cole" didn't even appear in any
fraternity material published from 1920-1950's.:eek:

Oh, and I'm also intrigued by the comment above:
"Our fraternity was different before the union with ThKN"
made by the Gamma Zeta brother.

How so? I wouldn't think the union had much of an effect
at all on the non-ThKN chapters. Yeah, the CoA changed a
bit and they added a Pledge ceremony and changed the
pledge pin a bit....but how would that have a "massive effect"
on the type of fraternity LXA was??

Just curious.

in ZAX,
Kevin

Not to get too far afield here, but I recently got my first Expositor (1929) and Cole is very much mentioned, but not in this passage which really cracked me up.

"Probably the most far reaching effects of the fourth assembly [1914] resulted from the appointment of a member of the Fraternity as its first traveling secretary and sole official jeweler to serve for three years. According to the plan adopted by the convention, the traveling secretary was to handle all fraternity jewelry and to receive, in lieu of a salary for his services as traveling secretary, all profits on jewelry sales. In the years which followed, this plan was thoroughly tested and found to be unsatisfactory."

Hmmm...I wonder who that refers to!!! ;)

ZAX,
Jono

I didn't mean a "massive effect." Only that when you combine two things, naturally, the outcome is different from the two originals. When two companys join, they fire some staff, hire some new ones, change the product and probably change company policy. The outcome is different from the original. Also that the early years of LXA before the merger, as passed down to me, is quite different than the fraternity we have now.

1929 is a far cry from what We know today! Correcto Mundo!? Jono.

SOS, You really are starting to try to talk like a Legal Fleagle!:)

If You are refering to The Merger of 1039, TKN/LXA, it seems to have been worked out considering thre Founding of TKN from many Locals to combine as a whole.

Granted, The History as passed down from Lore is a lot different than what is printed today.

Do not ever forget, there are Brothers on This Site Who dig and have many publications that preceede what We as Brothers see and read today.

The Oldest I have is 1929 LXA and A TKN Pledge Book. God is it fun to read the inraction between the two back then.

Looking at Old Pics and thinking to My Self how Old They Looked Then!:( They Looked Like Grown ups Then!

re: they looked like grown ups

That's because before WW2, college students "dressed up"
to go to class EVERYDAY (button shirt and tie, and usually a
coat). T-shirts and jeans hadn't been invented/adopted yet
(as outter clothing anyway). Amazing how much older/more-
mature you look "dressed up" than in sweats.

Also in those days, if you were over 16 or so, you WERE
"grown up" Average age to get married was about 20 for
guys and 15 for girls. ;) As is true today, those who went on
for college education (the few) waited a little later.

I recently found a newspaper article about our chapter's
FIRST FRAT PARTY as a local in January 1925....the names
of all attending were listed....the names of the CHAPERONES
(sp?) were listed....Brother Kingsten, later to become
our Zeta#1, played the HARP for entertainment.....
the girls all had on white gloves and almost all had
pill-box hats....Gift items were given out (little copper
buttons with "QTC" on them, the name of our local)

That was the "roarin' 20's" for ya! A real throw down
FRAT PARTY!:D

And to think...they didn't even have LIABILITY INSURANCE
or a High Iota back then! A thousand wonders we survived!

Great research Joiner! But I have to say, the more things change, the more they stay the same:

Lambda Chi is still the best damn fraternity in the world turning out successful men year after year!

The 20's were a really fun time for those living in the big cities, but as for the farm boys, probably not as much fun. Prohibition hadn't taken effect yet, the Great Depression was still a little off and with WWI just being won, the USA was in pretty high spirits.

Umass, then known as Massachusetts Agricultural, (Mass. Agi. for short) was still a farming school. One of our very old alumni used to tell stories of the parties they threw in the early 40's late 30's, and they came pretty close to modern day parties.

I guess there would be a big difference between a public farming school fraternity throwing a party to that of a private Boston or New York fraternity throwing a party.

Is the term "deification" used in reference to our brethren @ Sigma Chi? Each edition of their magazine seems to show members visiting the gravesites of various founding fathers or the Constantine Memorial near Atlanta.

Just wondering in ZAX,
BF

1941, Index, Year Book of Mass. State College. A hoot to read and see same House that is in use still today for a Local.


Kevin, I am talking Pixs in The Expositor, Boy did they look OLD!

Dont think there were buttoned down shirts, just collars that went around neck to add to a Nehru type shirt.

Ah Bro, I wore coat and tie dailey not to be cool, but in Business Dept. Hell, still looked young when I look at the Old BX Composite!

Damn I was good looking!:D Ah, The Good Old Days!!!!:cool:


Still wonder Where The Names that we have come to reverie are in the ground.

Still George S is the best bet for knowledge. Get to him before He is Gone!!!!!!!:)

Brother Bill,

How right you are! I just went through a lot of about 60 Sigma Chi magazines (won on eBay) this week. Most of them were from the early 1980s through the mid 1990s and nearly every one of them had such photograph! In their defense they do have 11 memorial sites scattered throughout the country.

While I don't want to see our Significant Lambda Chis "deified," I would like to see their graves properly marked and commemorated. I see nothing wrong in honoring their contributions to our fraternity. Even with their flaws and shortcomings they helped to build an organization that has has had a positive influence on generations of young men. I think that is noteworthy.

Yours in ZAX,

Zeta Upsilon Zeta,
AKA,
Mike Raymond

Bro. Mike, why did not any that know you understand what you are doing and where to fore!

I say Go for it and wish you Goodest of Luck in The Quest. I for one am very interested and wish I could be of help!:)

Send me Phone # and Can Be Earped, have not talked since Indy!:(

History is still History isnt it! I am sure many if not all would want to know "OUR" History or Heritage.:cool:

I wonder what that says about Sig's ritual and ideals. They have a Norman Cross, so I assume they have Christian ideals at the heart of the ritual...they also use a 7 branch candelabra (don't ask how I know...I just know, OK?)

I wouldn't mind seeing the gravesites of some of our more well-known and renowned members, but, as a Christian, I no they are not truly there anymore...get my drift?

While I got this from a good source, Who is a collector of Rituals, He stated SX is Number 1 and LXA is Right next to them. Hm, wonder if there is a jelious point there?

Makes you wonder what Fraternity He belongs to!:)


Wonder if the New Google is the way to go for finding lines of heritage of Family Burial Plots.:confused:

The only one that I still know of with some of the Heritage would be George Spasyk before He Passes along, if you can reach him?

Yes Mike, it would be fantastic to pin point Our Most important Founding Members for Posterity of The Fraternity!


:cool:

re: 7-branched candelabra
 

Prolly many fraternities use a 7-branched candelarbra (sp?).....
many fraternities "copy" from Masonic rituals....check out
Duncan's Rituals, available in most libraries and bookstores...
you'll even see a diagram using the 7bc. ;)

Cole
 

Mike,

I happened to be looking through the May 1958 issue of Alpha's Light today and noticed that Cole's address was listed as 286 New Meadow Road, Barrington, RI. Could he be buried there?

The history book says he died December 1968 "at the home of his daughter Irma". But I have no idea what her last name was or where she lived.

The mystery continues...

ZAX,
Jono

A quest
 

Give that al sorts of recrds are now availabe on line, I suppose that we could begin searchng for the final resting places of our Brothers in short order. All you really need is a full, colplete name and a date of death.

BTW, I can show you where three Brothers of Mu Zeta are buried, ALL at Arlington, in Virgnia.

General James Doolittle is buried there (TKN)

as are the brothers Canaga

Bruce Canaga Sr.
Bruce Canaga Jr.

George Spasyk
 

Brothers,

George Spasyk is alive and well! At eighty-one years of age he is bright, articulate, and lively! He was our guest speaker at our 55th Anniversary Celebration of Zeta-Upsilon Zeta held in Indianapolis this year. His "reflections" on our Chapter's history was well spoken and well received. He is a delightful man and great Brother. Meet him, thank him, and, most of all, learn what it means to be a life long Lambda Chi!

I did get a chance to ask about the burial spots of some of our early leaders. He had no clue! So, the search continues. I will follow-up on Jono's suggestion...Rhode Island here I come!

In deep fraternal bonds,

I remain,

Yours in ZAX,

Mike, "Digger," Raymond, Z-U Zeta

Okay "Digger',!:D

PMed You.

What names are you looking for? Maybe Jono as He would be "Digger" Jr. and I can be of help in doing some digging!:cool:

List who and we can start searching. I am lazy so any info might help.

Historical Records of many Greek Organizations leave a lot to be desired just like Zetas!:(

What We need here is an Astute Historian. Up for The Job?:)

Names you might count on Jono, LXAAlum, and me to try to be of assistance! Other takers will be accepted!:cool:

Re: George Spasyk
 

Mike,

Let me know if you actually head out to RI; I only live across the line in MA.

in ZAX,
Eric

WOW, have been digging for this Info.

There isnt Crap that I could find. I am at a lose. Anyone else got Ideas?

Warren Albert Cole being the first one.

Checked others in search but NADA?:(

Maybe I am going to wrong Sites?

Just a thought, maybe he was creamated?

Damn, Warren A. Cole is just as much a mystery now as He was then.

Damn, getting a crick in my neck trying to dig anything up:(

Chip, I think you might be on the right path though.

Maybe I am not getting in the right direction?

Any other ideas? Anyone?

Although I can assure you Warren Cole is not "buried" under Gamma Zeta, I can tell you there just may be some interesting "things" under there in a special place.

So, anyone know if he may have been creamated or not???

Any Idea when He Passed? If, 1968, was interned in Barrington, R. I.

Just guessing as If He was born in 1898 and passed in 1968, He was quite old.

It is possible though.

I had read in the history book that he died in 1959... I think. Jono can you confirm, since you have one at the ready?

Re: Cole
 

Where is Warren?
 

Greetings,

I am still trying to track down Warren Cole's burial site. I think the Rhode Island idea that Tom suggested could lead to success.

Any Brothers in Rhode Island who would be willing to research this? I could use the help.

On another note, I did track down the burial site of Jack Mason. I will probably do an article for the C&C about him next summer. If I remember correctly, next year will mark the 60th anniversary of his death.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZ

Here's a thought...if anyone has old back-issues of the C&C dating from when Cole passed away, that might indicate what town he died in....then try to find newspaper archives of that town, and read the obituary...that might answer the question once and for all.

S H while this might be a good idea, the problem was that He for a long time persona non grata until a a Gen. Assemb. I think in Denver. (19--)?

God, I hope We or someone can find out I have been going a little bugging looking through stuff. Short trip tho!:)

Great minds think alike - that's exactly what I'm trying to do, except with Percival Case Morse, Alpha 2. Morse, as a past GHZ member, is mentioned in the Paedagogus - as deceased in the 1973 edition but not so in the 1970. So it seems he died some time between 1970 and 1973.

If anyone has copies of the Cross & Crescent from the early '70s, I'd be very grateful if they could find his Omega for me! With the exact date of his death, I can then look for his obituary in the newspaper.

Dig, guys, DIG! (oh gosh, let me re-phrase that...)

ZAX,
Jono

an old genie talks
 

Each state has a vital statistics division. Each person who dies is
to have a death certificate. Order a copy from their State Department of Vital Statistics, and they will generally search for a
five year period.
In the death cert there should be a notation where the body is
buried or cremated or scattered if done by then...
The obituary depends...funeral home would have info., newspaper
might...back then more likely as today they charge and some folks
do not put in paper as to alerting folks when they'd not be at home.
Realtively easy, just takes a bit of time, but there must be some old codgers who went to the funeral. Indy should have this, and
if you get stymied, have Tom Earp contact his uncle Erik. I will find
it for you-all. Interfraternally, Erik P Conard, TKE, Denver