In “Zeta Psi Rising,” Michael Edgar posited that the recent lack of maintenance of Jens Larson’s Zeta Psi house was so great that the cost of repairs and code compliance might make demolition and replacement cheaper. The source of this speculation is not clear.
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[Update 11.12.2012: Broken link to Review article removed.]
The architect of the Phi Delta Theta (now Phi Delta Alpha) house on Webster Avenue has been elusive. Although Alexander Anderson McKenzie “built into this house his own integrity,” as a plaque inside states, he did not design the building.
The American Architect and Building News stated in its “Building Intelligence” section for November 10, 1900:
The Dartmouth College Chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity will erect a chapter-house on Webster Ave., after plans by Charles A. Rich, 24 Nassau St., N.Y. City. The structure will be built in the Colonial style prevailing in the college buildings, the lines in general being similar to those of the Gov. Hancock House, Boston.
The Harold Parmington Foundation, a fraternity that existed from 1972 to 1984 and had the most unusual fraternal symbol ever, lives on in a touching website that Dave Halpert has set up.
The site has several photos of the house (now owned by the College and occupied by Epsilon Kappa Theta) including photos of the meeting room, the basement and the pool room) as well as Carnival sculptures (for example, 1976) and composite photos (1976).
The firm that designed the new Phi Tau house turns out to be Weimann Lamphere Architects.
The Sphinx Tomb (William Butterfield, 1903) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places last March. It is the first building related to Dartmouth College or located in central Hanover to be listed. The only other building in Hanover Township to be listed so far is the Great Hollow Road Stone Arch Bridge over Mink Brook, which was listed in 1997.
Small updates:
A recent visit to the tower of Baker Library permitted views of the interior of the tower and, amid many other graffiti, a graffito from a member of Sphinx (general story in The Dartmouth). The writing above the arches is illegible (“YLIJV?”), but the “M.K.K.” below presumably stands for “Mystical[al] Krewe of K____” (not Komus, surely?).
The school is renovating the Parkside apartment building, designed by Howard Major and Charles Rich as faculty housing, and Amarna [planning board [pdf]].
The Dartmouth reports that Bones Gate, Tabard, Chi Gamma Epsilon, and other houses are undergoing major required renovations this summer that include the addition of exterior stair towers in some cases. Sigma Nu also is considering such an addition.
Tabard is starting some work to improve accessibility and fire safety, as the Planning Board agenda notes.
Thanks to Ted for the information that Phi Delta Alpha is undertaking a major renovation of their massive 5 Webster Avenue house, with interior and exterior work designed by Design-Build Studio of Norwich and contracting by Estes & Gallup of Lyme. The exterior work includes the additions of a kitchen, bathroom, and entrance.
Dartmouth plans to build an addition to one of its Webster Avenue houses, Alpha Chi Alpha, The Dartmouth reports.
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[Update 11.10.2012: Broken link fixed.]
The Downturn has slowed construction, but according to an update from Provost Scherr, but the College still is pursuing projects including the Academic Centers north of Carson Hall on North Main; Kemeny Hall on North Main, which requires moving Phi Tau; an addition to Sudikoff Hall; an addition to the south of Cummings Hall atop the existing road; and an addition to the Child Care center.
The school is building a new house for Phi Tau in front of its old one, The Dartmouth reports. The old building, designed by D.W. Redfield for Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and built in 1927-1928, will be demolished.
Trustees are moving ahead on planning, The Dartmouth reports.:
Major changes proposed by Student Life Initiative affect CFS buildings, new dormitories, a new 1,000-seat hall and other buildings.
