I have always been fascinated by the big old hotels where fraternities and sororities hosted their national meetings - the New Ocean House, West Baden Springs, Bigwin Inn, French Lick Hotel, Breezy Point Lodge and the Greenbrier (where Chi Omega had many consecutive conventions). West Baden Springs has been restored to its former glory, the Greenbrier and French Lick Hotels are still around, but some of them are gone, including the New Ocean House which went down in flames for a final time in 1969.
From the 1920s until the 1960s, the New Ocean House in Swampscott, Massachusetts, was the site of many conventions, including those of fraternities and sororities.
Alpha Chi Omega's 1924 convention took place at the New Ocean House. Kappa Kappa Gammas gathered there in 1932. Delta Gamma's 1948 Diamond Jubilee Convention* was held there, too. Delta Delta Delta celebrated its Golden Anniversary at the New Ocean House in 1938. It was the site of Pi Beta Phi's 1946 and 1958 conventions.
Fraternities also used the New Ocean House for their gatherings. Phi Gamma Delta's 1929 and 1958 Ekklesiai took place there as did Kappa Sigma's 1949 Grand Conclave.
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