Centennial Planning

[john1082]

But where would it go? Boston, I suppose, but Boston is a BIG PLACE? Would the school give us some space?

As far as locations go, I guess we could go out to the cemetery where Cole is buried but given the size of the place and the nature of the road and terrain, it would look like Normandy, post-Eisenhower, when we finished up out there!

[GammaZeta]

Alpha Zeta may have had some meeting places, but Gamma Zeta was the first official Chapter House.

Unfortunately, there really isn't any recorded history of the house. We were shut down in the 70's for a few years and everything prior to that was lost. Every so often we had some alumni show up that did take some items to give them back, but that was rare.

As for the status, LCAP owns it, but we all know they are selling their assets. Gamma Zeta does not have an operational chapter, so keeping the house as a LXA Chapter House would be impossible since there would be no one to rent it. Lord knows, I tried to recolonize. I even had a petition of 100 names of alumni willing to donate time and money to get it back in business. But some people at HQ decided against it, saying "it wasn't feasible". In those two years, Umass has had several SUCCESSFUL fraternities come and recolonize. INCLUDING PIkE, which now are LIVING in Gamma Zeta.

Sorry, got off topic. But Gamma Zeta Housing Corp. will probably buy the house and sell it since we couldn't afford to hold onto it (since HQ didn't want to recolonize). Funny thing is, we could have had a chapter up and running by now to move back into the house.......makes you think.

There is no use for the house other than fraternal living. So, pave paradise, put up a parking lot. In this case, probably an administrative building for Umass.

Nice huh?


Hey Mike,

"My problem is that I can't get anybody in the Massachusetts Historical Society or State Government to give me the time of day!"

Just so happens I have many years and connections with Mass. State Government.

Give me a PM, I'll work with you on this.

[GammaZeta]

From our website:

"Early in 1912, Warren Cole, as was his custom in attempting to establish a chapter at a school, wrote to a student at Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) in Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts) asking the names of the Greek-letter fraternities on campus and the names of at least two "good, non-fraternity men." Herbert E. Cole responded with the names of six Greek-letter groups and two names, including that of Lewis Drury. Warren Cole wrote to Drury asking if he was interested in forming a Greek-letter society. Apparently Drury was quite interested, as he had his agronomy professor write a letter of recommendation to Warren Cole.

The MAC petition was duly submitted and quickly approved—after all, it was Cole's first success in attracting a group after more than one hundred futile efforts. Lambda Chi Alpha's first established chapter, Gamma Zeta, was born."

However, you will soon have the title of OLDEST chapter house, but not FIRSt. Gamma Zeta will soon be turned into a parking lot within the year. Demolished. Torn down.

[docroc67]

Originally Posted by john1082

But where would it go? Boston, I suppose, but Boston is a BIG PLACE? Would the school give us some space?

As far as locations go, I guess we could go out to the cemetery where Cole is buried but given the size of the place and the nature of the road and terrain, it would look like Normandy, post-Eisenhower, when we finished up out there!

Brother John,

I completely agree with your comment about Cole's grave site. I would never advocate a marker at that site.

I would propose putting his marker at or near the public library in Swansea. This site is beautiful with an historic library building. It is next to (in front of) the cemetery where many of Cole's relatives are buried.

I think the marker could indicate that he was born in Swansea, buried nearby, and founded our Fraternity.

I think a marker on that site recognizes him as our Founder without putting the actual burial site in jeopardy.

As to Mason, he was cremated and apparently buried with some other relatives. There are five or six names on his headstone! He has a small headstone with no indication of his involvement with our Fraternity.

We might be able to work with the cemetery manager to put something up near the actual grave. I understand that Lambda Chis visit the place from time to time.

When I visited his grave site it appeared well maintained and well protected.

John, thanks for your comments.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond

[bman]

Hello, I am from Phi Lambda at St Joes. The marker is great idea. As far as Mason's grave goes, his family is also buried alongside of him. We go there every semester. I don't know how Penn would feel about it. Their current Greek Advisor is a Lambda Chi as well. I also don't know about the chapter there. They also have a lot of historical stuff and an awsome brand new house. But if I can be any help, I have so friends in state government from working for a state rep for a while so let me know if there is something you think you need.

Also we are in the process of planning our own anniversary celebration, but would like to include a lot of the closer zetas, and where potentially hoping to turn it into the Philadelphia region celebration, and it is also our 30th. IF anyone has ideas to get money for that, get support from nationals and make it happen. Thanks


Brendan Ledwith
Phi Lambda 573
High Theta
Anniversary Committee chairman

[john1082]

OK, I have but a single, simple question: Where IS Mason buried / interred / entombed / in-urned?

[bman]

Mason is buried on the University Of Penn's Campus. It is on Woodland ave near the Veterinary Hospital.

[john1082]

U of Penn is in Philadelphia?

[docroc67]

Originally Posted by john1082

OK, I have but a single, simple question: Where IS Mason buried / interred / entombed / in-urned?

Brother John,

If you take a look at the Mason article in the June, 2006 issue of the C&C you will find a Woodlands Cemetery reference toward the end of the article. Click on it and you get a nice arial view of the cemetery. You also get their address and phone number.

I did not know that Woodlands is part of the University. I thought it was a public cemetery.

I hope this helps.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZeta

[john1082]

It appears that the cemetery is adjacent to the college; research also suggests that it may be a affiliated with some sort of Philadelphia area preservation society.

[bman]

It is right next to Penn, we happened upon the people who are the preservation people during one of our visits, and they love to have information about famous people buried there. I do have a phone number for the society if anyone should need it.