GC Virtual Tour Book of Fraternity and Sorority Heritage Sites and Landmarks

[ComradesTrue]

Student rooming house on South College Avenue in Greencastle IN where Kappa Alpha Theta was founded. Two of our four founders resided in this house.




Front of marker...





...and back of marker.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

Front of marker...





...and back of marker.

A random question (and one that you might not know the answer to)... why is the word "the" missing on the marker - along with other smaller words like "a" and "in", where they should clearly be used?

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

A random question (and one that you might not know the answer to)... why is the word "the" missing on the marker - along with other smaller words like "a" and "in", where they should clearly be used?

Honestly, I am not sure. My best guess is that with all of the words the description would have been too long for the marker. Therefore, whoever wrote it opted to leave out of all the articles instead of having to condense the history part. But that is 100% pure speculation.

Is anyone familiar with other historical markers in Indiana? Is this omission format common or unique to just Theta's marker?

[TSteven]

Sigma Chi Fraternity Monuments and Memorials -- Information and pictures of the Sigma Chi Monuments and Memorials may be found at the link.

"The work of the Monuments and Memorials Commission (originally the Runkle Monument Commission) began in 1921. Since then, the Commission has always adhered faithfully to its mission—to perpetuate our glorious heritage symbolized by Sigma Chi’s beautiful monuments and memorials.

Along with the huge undertaking of erecting monuments to the Seven Founders came our similar challenge of honoring others from our past, including Harry St. John Dixon, Constantine Chapter; John S. McMillin, DePauw 1876; and Joseph Cookman Nate, Illinois Wesleyan 1890; who have all carved an indelible place in our history. The Constantine Memorial signifies survival of our fledgling Fraternity during an unbelievably trying time in American history. Of simple but strong origin is the monument memorializing the all-too-short life of Samuel Clark, Miami (Ohio) 1858, the first Sigma Chi to enter the Chapter Eternal. Finally, we are indeed fortunate to have the Founding Site in Oxford, Ohio, and the Omicron Omicron Museum at Sigma Chi’s J. Dwight Peterson International Headquarters in Evanston, Ill."


The Founding Site

"Sigma Chi's most important historical monument is the site of the Fraternity's founding, located in Oxford, Ohio.

The small room, marked on the outside by a plaque between its two windows, is on the second floor of a building on the north side of High Street at the town square, and was the rooming place of Founders Runkle and Caldwell during their years of enrollment as undergraduates at Miami University. The badge of Sigma Chi was designed in this room and many of the earliest meetings of the Alpha Chapter were held here.

In 1973, the Founding Site was purchased and donated to the Sigma Chi Foundation by 41st Grand Consul William P. Huffman Denison 1911. It was renovated and rededicated in 1993."

+++

While no picture is shown on the website of the Samuel H. Clark Memorial Monument yet, I would like to share this information about it with y’all.

Samuel H. Clark Memorial Monument

"The Samuel H. Clark Memorial Monument was dedicated in December 1990, in Brookside Cemetery, West Chester, Ohio, and honors a Sigma Chi brother who had little chance on earth to develop a legacy of brotherhood that most of us share. Samuel H. Clark was the brother who unlocked the gates to the Chapter Eternal and became the first brother, at age 21, to pass away.

During the summer of 1856, Clark was stricken with typhoid fever. Our Seven Founders provided their outstretched arms for comfort as their brother slipped away October 1, 1856. The final request Clark made was that the White Cross of Sigma Chi be placed upon the stone that marked his final resting place. With this accomplished, Sigma Chi had witnessed an even deeper meaning and growth to its brotherhood.

The original marker is on display at the Founding Site on High Street in Oxford, Ohio. The new memorial is an exact replica of the original."

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DUKyleXY

Well, I had an idea with how to keep the information organized, but its off site:
I have created a Google Map, which I have called the "Register of Fraternal Landmarks." Here we can organize our information, for instance, I have located the reconstructed Raleigh Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg and have marked it as a landmark and added historical information and a link to the Phi Beta Kappa Wikipedia entry as a "For more information, see"

here is the link to the map and I have allowed for anyone with the link to edit the map.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...bfcd2d9f726531

Cool idea. Maybe we can keep that going as well. I have a feeling, though, that it won't take long for the US to be covered with laurel wreaths (although I see the latest addition has a simple "push pin" instead of the laurel wreath). And I for one still want to see the pictures.

Originally Posted by Blondie93

, I am not sure. My best guess is that with all of the words the description would have been too long for the marker. Therefore, whoever wrote it opted to leave out of all the articles instead of having to condense the history part. But that is 100% pure speculation.

Is anyone familiar with other historical markers in Indiana? Is this omission format common or unique to just Theta's marker?

My guess is that your speculation is correct. i don't think it is at all unusual for historical markers to omit articles, which will be naturally understood, so that there is room for the important information. I know it's very common on historical markers around here to do that.


I'm loving seeing all of this information and all of these places and monuments. Keep them coming.