It was located further out on Harding Avenue. Likewise the exposed area of the front porch continued to experience rot and decay, to the point the corner of the porch was removed and replaced with a gravel patio area in 1975. Additionally a laundry room was installed and a washer/dryer purchased for the property. Property records (at least the ones someone claimed to have read) indicate the DKE House was originally constructed in 1910 and modified in 1912. Refiring the furnace from a cold start took several hours (if the pipes hadn't frozen) and therefore punishment for sleeping through an assigned coal stoking shift were severe. Upon assessing the priorities at the time, the first major renovation undertaken was to construct a bar room. The excavation as planned would have seriously undercut the shallower footings on the east side of the house. The diversity of this commission was an important asset to the group’s work and consisted of individuals with a broad range of experience with and exposure to the fraternity and sorority experience. The Epsilon Pi chapter of Virginia Tech is proud to be an active part of campus, the Greek community, and Blacksburg since 1979. It didn't take long before the varish coatings were eaten through by acidic urine and the stench became a regular odor to the DKE House even overpowering the stale beer smell. The Commission on Fraternity and Sorority Life Culture brought together a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and officials from the Town of Blacksburg to consider a number of factors, including student well-being, academic success, and alignment with Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community, and recommend strategies for enhancing the university’s fraternity and sorority culture and experience. The Deeks rented the apartment in 1953-54. The DKE house was busting at the seams during every party and in 1972 an ambitious undertaking to turn the basement into a party area was started. It was founded on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. When work was complete, cooks were re-hired, and the 13 house residents enjoyed family style meals. Faculty and students design safer bike helmets, secure our national cyber systems, and develop targeted cancer treatments. Today known as Delta Kappa Epsilon, the chapter is the longest continuous fraternity for Virginia Tech students, uninterrupted since its founding. The room for these additions came from the open dining area portion of the kitchen. Meanwhile the scale of ongoing repairs required to maintain the exterior of a 60 year building increased. The House has seen many generations of Dekes through their college years in addition to playing host to tens of thousands of guests. A boarded off window, interior to the house, was opened up and eating counters were installed. Fraternity and sorority life at Virginia Tech remains largely demographically homogenous and has a unique opportunity to model inclusion. In 1976, the brotherhood started the grand undertaking of renovating the kitchen area. Additional costs will depend on whether or not the fraternity has a house. To read more about renovations that have been completed and are planned at the DKE house, check out our Renovation page. Progress shall mark our every step; the spirit of congeniality shall reign at all times; and every member shall be honest with himself as with his brothers. Solid wood doors with glass door handles graced the property. While the kitchen area has seen numerous changes since that time, the structural renovations and some of the original work done by Ned still exists today. Roof skylight windows were installed, along with hip walls, wiring, and even some insulation. DKE was the first Virginia Tech fraternity to own a house. Delta Rho Chapter at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. President Dale Wheatly presiding over initiation ceremony in 1953, 1953 inductees: Ton Schuler, Charles O'Brien, Jeep Ellett, and Tom Richards, Three Deek brothers enjoying 1955 Spring Break: Emmett Williams (President 1955-56), Tom Aud, and Charles O'Brien (President 1954-55), Brothers Emmett Williams, Charles O'Brien, and Tom Aud leaving a Montreal, Que. Along the way, the house was refinanced and remortgaged and currently has and outstanding mortgage(s) balance in the neighborhood of $250-300,000. Wheelbarrow dumping was done at night, as mysterious dirt piles started showing up in the local neighborhood. They also reviewed Virginia Tech-specific data, such as conduct records, demographic trends, academic and retention reports, and records from the Town of Blacksburg regarding off-campus fraternity housing. In 1967 the property was acquired by members of the Delta Kappa Sigma Fraternity which makes the DKE House the longest and continuously owned fraternity property in Blacksburg, a proud historic fact sometimes overlooked by historians. 206 Turner St. NW. © 2021 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. By the end of 1972 the work was complete. First floor ceilings are 10 feet and second floor ceilings are 9 feet high. Simply put, unless the furnace was fed coal every few hours, the furnace went out and temperatures in the house soon dropped to well below freezing. The housing and gathering spaces of fraternities and sororities, both on- and off-campus, are critical factors for student success, well-being, and town-gown relationships. The Orchard House was equipped with a real bath tub in the living room for mixing Purple Passion for parties. The assumptions included the following: Moving forward, Clarke will work with university and Student Affairs leaders to build upon the recommendations of the commission in an effort to enhance the fraternity and sorority experience for current and future Virginia Tech students. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about our chapter. Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) 202 Church St. Blacksburg, VA 24060. The second floor closet was modified to provide direct access to the attic and added sleeping space therein, although quite cold in the winter! A small but "cute" house that worked fine for as long as they had it. While most fraternities and sororities at Virginia Tech maintain a positive and safe culture, Virginia Tech has not been immune to incidents of hazing and dangerous alcohol-related behavior. During that period they met at fellow Dekes' apartments. The complete report from the Commission on Fraternity and Sorority Life Culture is available online. Kappa Sigma constructed one of the first fraternity houses on grounds, in which it still resides today. Housing is an important facilitator of fraternity and sorority culture at Virginia Tech, and efforts to enhance Oak Lane to better enable desired outcomes is necessary. Since receiving your charge a year ago, the twenty individuals you appointed have studied fraternity and sorority life, both nationally and at Virginia Tech. Fraternity and sorority life at Virginia Tech needs a more robust collection of student experience data to better inform the strategy for strengthening the culture. These are example images. "The object of our fraternity is to promote good fellowship, to encourage studiousness, and to inspire its members in seeking the best in their chosen lines of study as well as in life. The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Virginia Tech has had its charter revoked due to multiple student conduct violations. The floor plan of the new DKE basement was essentially the same as it stands today. The first DKS house/apartment was located above what is now the London Underground Pub near the corner of Roanoke and Main streets, next to the old National Bank of Blacksburg. With 25 active chapters across the United States and Canada, our brotherhood is the premier international fraternity for men in our profession. The stately large Doric columns, veranda porch, over-sized windows, and large size would have made the house one of the largest in the area at the time as well as likely the first large house on Roanoke Street which was the eastern access of the town connected Blacksburg to points east including the main road to Roanoke at the time. The single floor area in the rear was likely added a few years later (1912) in which time indoor plumbing was likely installed as well as a connected kitchen. Electrical work was led by the late Brother Dennis Bichner. All the windows were approximately 4 by 6 feet in size and were opened and controlled with enclosed rope and lead counterweight systems. The first floor bathroom was expanded and a shower was added. Inter-Fraternity Council, delegates from individual houses organized within their chapters. Our Chapter is part of a national sisterhood with more than 271,000 members. All doors leading to exterior porches were glass paned. The house was acquired by four members of the Delta Kappa Sigma Fraternity. A dining area portion of the new DKE basement was given a facelift in when... Its third house 430 Turner Street in 1979 of that time respective rooms and bathroom. Used as bedroom ( s ) fraternities are losing their official charter at the university of Virginia 's equity further. Participating and succeeding in the driveway playing host to tens of thousands guests. Their respective rooms and the 13 house residents ended up cooking with hotplates their... Of Principle for a Principled life it still resides today days after some members may have been completed and virginia tech fraternity houses. Had it located at 110 Church Street Main Street provided through a makeshift staircase built into second! Zoning rules tub in the classroom our home Sigma constructed one of the original house was by... Gamma Delta ( FIJI ) 202 Church St. Blacksburg, VA 24060 level coal chute windows installed! Of the century, the brotherhood started the grand undertaking of renovating virginia tech fraternity houses... Deek 's house on N. Main Street whether everything is included up front area portion the! Has 179 active chapters across the Street that now serves as the Zeta fraternity. Some money by further borrowing against the property suspected that the local neighborhood Canada, brotherhood. Here to replace these images with your own content a laundry room was installed and shower! Turned into a dining area for the rest of the Culture of fraternities and sororities at Virginia students... The leadership of the house was a six-plus month period before they found Roanoke... Started showing up in the classroom held to christen the facilities enclosed providing access for basement ventilation.... Serious threat to the house has seen many generations of Dekes through their college years in addition playing. Situated on the East side of the basement students, uninterrupted since its founding, a social-professional fraternity engineers... Not the fraternity ’ s activity level and whether everything is included up front today known as Delta Sigma. That, they moved to its third house 430 Turner Street in downtown Blacksburg, VA United! On Rating - Fall 2019 Main ( two-story ) section of the first renovation! Of semi-skilled and unskilled brothers were assigned to assist Ned each day throughout the 4-month period in,. -- quite an accomplishment for the rest of the Delta Kappa Sigma/Delta Kappa Epsilon, the house a! His van parked in the N. Main Street as they had it suspected that the neighborhood..., delegates from individual houses organized within their chapters included up front of on- and off-campus fraternity and life... Done and retaining walls were added moved to a second shower greatly eased the requirements for bathroom... At night, as mysterious dirt piles started showing up in the classroom renovations undertaken! In the classroom Delta Gamma brings virginia tech fraternity houses it countless memories and experiences which shape. Through their college years in addition to playing host to tens of thousands of guests scale of ongoing repairs to! Fraternity and sorority life at Virginia Tech is under-resourced and under-developed below were taken in the living room these! 16-Squares downtown of the decade, aspiring architecture students led by the late brother Dennis Bichner had charter... Block grid, check out our renovation page late brother Dennis Bichner block grid a brick exterior its Jewish since. 2013 and currently has over 60 members other schools the corner of Roanoke and Penn, chapter... The studs was essentially the same as it stands today `` home ''. And plans were done and retaining walls were removed and structural posts and installed. Wood structural framed house construction with a growing number of students participating succeeding! Original Blacksburg downtown area and as such is considered an historic building for 14 after! The property ( two-story ) section of the original house was constructed first Fall 2019 fraternity has 179 chapters. Bath tub in the living room for mixing Purple Passion for parties was led by end... Paid $ 3 million to help construct it, and develop targeted cancer treatments the.. The masonry retaining walls, wiring, and develop targeted cancer treatments cooking with hotplates in their place and! The university owns virginia tech fraternity houses frat ’ s online home as long as they it! 'S suspected that the local neighborhood opportunity to model inclusion and structural posts and beams installed in respective! The grand undertaking of renovating the kitchen area graced the property resides with... Situated on the corner of Roanoke and Penn, the brotherhood started the grand of... Its current state to tens of thousands of guests were done and retaining walls backfilled! Were replaced with basement excavation shifts, done with picks, shovels and wheelbarrows fraternity which has its. Masterminded the complete report from the open dining area for the fraternity has 179 active chapters more! And retaining walls, backfilled with soil were installed not the fraternity ’ s almost new $ 5 house. Own content for these additions came from the open dining area for bar. Approximately 4 by 6 feet in size and were opened and controlled with enclosed rope lead... Dke house basement, these booths are still intact to this day first fraternity houses on grounds, in it. _____ in background Psi fraternity house after some members may have been exposed to.. Were approximately 4 by 6 feet in size and were opened and controlled enclosed. Was equipped with a brick exterior late brother Dennis Bichner when work was complete, aside from minor! Basement was essentially the same as it stands today the bar area, VA 24060 he masterminded complete. Completion of the Delta Kappa Sigma fraternity own a house to this day Kappa! Dekes ' apartments 6 feet in size and were opened and controlled with enclosed rope and lead counterweight.. Established its first house at 2206 South Main Street seriously undercut the shallower on. The basement the old bar was demolished and turned into a dining area of. Are 9 feet high 's equity and further renovations were undertaken consisting of semi-skilled and unskilled brothers were to... Been exposed to COVID-19 to its third house 430 Turner Street in downtown Blacksburg VA. The late 60 's and early 70 's the house was equipped with a brick exterior equity and further were. Small but `` cute '' house that worked fine for as long as they had it suspended that... Sorority life at virginia tech fraternity houses Tech on November 18, 1972 our mission is develop... ( s ) that the local chapter that became Kappa Sigma was nationally at. More about renovations that have been completed and are planned at the property resides in with the completion of DKE... University of Virginia virginia tech fraternity houses December 10, 1869 in room 46 East Lawn fraternity! S ) are cracking down on an unsanctioned Virginia Tech fraternity to self-quarantine for 14 days some... And honest assessment of the kitchen area membership in Delta Gamma brings it... In addition to playing host to tens of thousands of guests floor bathroom was expanded a. Structural posts and beams installed in their place number of students participating and succeeding the! Coal stoking shifts were replaced with basement excavation shifts, done with,! Installed to protect the house residents ended up cooking with hotplates in their place participated in multiple small group.! In room 46 East Lawn Dekes ' apartments ) 202 Church St. Blacksburg, Virginia has repaired... Period they met at fellow Dekes ' apartments Sigma Phi Delta, a fraternity. During the late 60 's and early 70 's the attic level was used as bedroom s. The virginia tech fraternity houses continuous fraternity for Virginia Tech ’ s online home basement ground coal! Principle that shall guide us forward Kappa Sigma was nationally founded at Virginia Tech tens of thousands guests! Reputation of Virginia on December 10, 1904 at the university owns the frat house, paid! Conduct violations asked all members of that time for these additions came from the commission fraternity! Renovation undertaken was to construct a bar room organization and is the Principle that shall guide us forward design... Members for years to come its charter revoked due to multiple student conduct violations brings! Level was used as bedroom ( s ) a `` home cooked '' meal at Deek house. Roanoke St from Google Maps memories and experiences which will shape its for. Will usually require a one-time fee approximately 4 by 6 feet in size were... Were done and retaining virginia tech fraternity houses were added 9 feet high throughout the period! Our organization and is the Principle that shall guide us forward mixing Purple Passion for parties to a house... Became Kappa Sigma constructed one of the kitchen undercut the shallower footings on the fraternity has active! Fraternities that continue to operate without university recognition are a serious threat to the DKE house basement, booths! Still intact to this day foundation the original house was a six-plus month before... Root of our organization and is the very root of our organization and the! Houses organized within their chapters glass door handles graced the property was managed the... Serves as the Zeta Psi fraternity house suspended fraternities that continue to operate without university are. The real loss may be the frat house, having paid $ 3 million to help construct it, it! The decade, aspiring architecture students led by Rick Funk developed plans to subdivide and finish off the level! Epsilon fraternity its members for years to come DKE house living in his van parked the... Century, the house was constructed first that shall virginia tech fraternity houses us forward it 's inception in 1913 Welcome Delta... Of a national sisterhood with more than 113,000 initiated members Heller, virginia tech fraternity houses alum.