Sigma Rho History & Traditions
Founding of Sigma Rho
The Alpha Chapter of the Sigma Rho Fraternity was founded at the Michigan College of Mines in 1892 by Henry Hoffman Holbert, Elton W. Walker, John T. Been, Royce E. Barlow, Carl R. Davis, Dave Dockery, Alvin B. Carpenter, William E. Upham, and William M. Cameron for the purpose of aiding and bringing the members more closely together, to help each other in every way within their power, and to open new channels for the members to pass more pleasantly their college days. In April of 1894, a charter was granted Sigma Rho by the State of Michigan and the Michigan College of Mines.
Meetings were first held in the front room of a two room flat located over a saloon, overlooking Sheldon St. in Houghton. In May of 1906, the thought of building a new fraternity house was discussed. The fraternity was beginning to flourish, with 23 active and two pledged men. The membership was at an all-time high as was the financial situation.
The idea was to "build an ideal fraternity house, such as would provide accommodations for twenty men, and one that would stand out as a monument and home for all Sigma Rho members." A committee was organized to investigate the cost for such an undertaking. The committee had not been outstanding long before Brother W. R. Hodge volunteered the loan of $5000.00 to the fraternity. Mrs. Blanche Hubbell Carpenter had previously announced her willingness to deed over to the fraternity lot #10 in Hubbell Addition, as soon as the fraternity was ready to build. Soon after, Brother Hodge withdrew his previous loan and together with Brother Robert P. Dunstan a loan offer of $15,000.00 was made. The lot from Mrs: Carpenter was sold for $700.00, and lots One, Two, Three, Ten and Eleven of Block Four of Park Addition (site of today's East Wadsworth Hall) were purchased.
The Big White House
1957 Deed transferring property of the Big White House to the Michigan College of Mining and Technology
Meetings were first held in the front room of a two room flat located over a saloon, overlooking Sheldon St. in Houghton. In May of 1906, the thought of building a new fraternity house was discussed. The fraternity was beginning to flourish, with 23 active and two pledged men. The membership was at an all-time high as was the financial situation.
The idea was to "build an ideal fraternity house, such as would provide accommodations for twenty men, and one that would stand out as a monument and home for all Sigma Rho members." A committee was organized to investigate the cost for such an undertaking. The committee had not been outstanding long before Brother W. R. Hodge volunteered the loan of $5000.00 to the fraternity. Mrs. Blanche Hubbell Carpenter had previously announced her willingness to deed over to the fraternity lot #10 in Hubbell Addition, as soon as the fraternity was ready to build. Soon after, Brother Hodge withdrew his previous loan and together with Brother Robert P. Dunstan a loan offer of $15,000.00 was made. The lot from Mrs: Carpenter was sold for $700.00, and lots One, Two, Three, Ten and Eleven of Block Four of Park Addition (site of today's East Wadsworth Hall) were purchased.
November 27th 1907 letter informing alumni of construction of the Sigma Rho Fraternity house, and requesting donations.
The loan was through Superior Trust Company, and the entire property was bonded for the full amount of the investment, and was for a duration of seventeen years.
At this time a pledge drive was begun, with the actives requesting one of two things from the alumni:
1. An immediate donation of $50.00 or more in cash.
2. A subscription of $60.00 or more in notes.
This amounted to approximately twelve dollars per year. NOTE: To begin the project, $6000.00 was needed immediately for a down-payment. The active members had subscribed $2000.00 in notes, which left $4000.00 to be subscribed by the alumni. As of July 21, 1906, $4200.00 had been pledged to the fraternity from 54 alumni which made the house a go for sure.
On February 9, 1907, the house committee approved the house plans and needed only the boards approval. As of April 2, 1907, the contract for the building of the house was closed by the board of directors, and Herman Gundlach was to begin construction of the house as soon as the snow cleared. The building was promised to be completed by September first, ready for occupancy.
As of November 17, 1907, the house was a reality, the "dream come true" of the fraternity. The members were settled in, but problems arose. The two members who promised to loan the fraternity $15,000.00 were hit hard in the copper market and could only loan the house a total of $11,500.00. It was winter and a heating plant had just been installed in the house. The active members were furnishing the house themselves and had little or no money to contribute to pay the outstanding bills. Sigma Rho once again called on its' alumni members to loan the fraternity at least $30.00 per man. The alumni responded at once, and the house was able to pay its' bills owing only the alumni.
One unique feature of the house was its' extensive library, continually updated by the members and at one time even commanding its' own librarian, Mr. Lyman Richards.
The house, which was to be their home for half a century, was an elegant white house perched atop a hill at 1715 East Houghton Avenue. It was the scene of many a fireside toast, and the lamps were kept burning a good part of the time.
Interior and exterior pictures of the Big White House. The first Sigma Rho Fraternity House.
The lamps were extinguished for a short period of time, however. As America's involvement in World War II expanded, some of the Brothers of Sigma Rho were asked to defend their country. Due to the lack of membership, it was decided in the early months of 1943 that the Chapter House would close down indefinitely. The school's ROTC program increased in size and quarters for these soldiers was hard to come by. On the ninth day of August, 1943, Sigma Rho's beautiful home was transformed into a barracks for soldiers for the period of one year. The fraternity signed a lease with the university in which the enterprising house was to be paid $1800.00 per year in rent, if in fact the contract was to be extended. All maintenance on the house was to be paid for by the school, and the fraternity had the right to cancel the lease at any time with 30 days notice given.
Sigma Rho Fraternity House World War II lease page 1
Sigma Rho during WWII
Sigma Rho Fraternity House World War II lease page 2
Sigma Rho Fraternity House World War II lease page 3
In April of 1956, news had already circulated of the school's desire to expand and build a new dormitory. As luck would have it, the beautiful "White House on the Hill" stood in the way of progress. The school condemned the house, and with no money to take the case to court, the members were forced to begin to look for a place to relocate.
A beautiful parcel of land and an exquisite mansion in Chassell was investigated, which would eventually become the home of the Sig's for the next eighteen years. This was the only house of size the fraternity could locate, and thus began the current stay in Chassell for the next 35 years.
In October of 1956, negotiations began for the C. H. Worcester property, for a sum not to exceed $31,750.00. A loan was to be obtained for $5,000.00 to secure the purchase of the property and another loan of $10,000.00 would be applied for after the title to the land was cleared for rehabilitation of the house and property. In December of 1956, the incorporate president Brother T. C. Sermon and secretary Brother Howard W. King signed the purchase agreement for the Chassell property. The proposed date of payment was March 1, 1957. Meanwhile, negotiations with the school for the Houghton property were continuing as neither side could reach an agreement.
In January of 1957, a $10,000.00 fire policy was taken out on the uninhabited Worcester mansion to cover the equity the house had invested. Three members moved in the new house at this time and began to size up the work that needed to be done. The school's board of control had agreed to pay the full purchase price of $31,500.00 for the Houghton property on March 7, 1957, and had also agreed to allow the fraternity to occupy the premises past March first of the same year. Today, the only remembrance of the original Sigma Rho house are a few pictures and the brass letters of Sigma and Rho, proudly displayed on the front of the Robert Archambeau bar.
The rest of the Sigma Rho Fraternity then made the move to Chassell, inhabiting the newly acquired Worcester Mansion at the beginning of the 1957-58 school year. Maximum capacity of the house was 25 members. The new house was enjoyed by all of the members, and being a Sig Rho was a unique experience. No other Greeks on campus could brag of such a grand backyard or the opportunity to enjoy such picturesque scenery, not to mention Chassell sunrises and sunsets.
The Worcester House was an old house, and old houses require almost constant upkeep. This was the case with the Sig's home. New shingles, porches, stairs, and the like were being installed and the house was always in need of some attention. In December of 1967, ideas for a new house were brought up but later that month were dropped for the time, as the fraternity did have extra acreage parcels that were put up for sale to cover renovations. The first parcels put up for sale were those to the west of U. S. 41. In February of 1969, a thirteen acre parcel was sold for $6,501.00, and these funds were to be used to renovate the dining room and supply new furniture, install a new heating plant, and repair the old bathrooms. Several other parcels were also sold through the years, basically to reduce the existing mortgage on the house.
Worcester House
Worcester House
Worcester House with a new paint job
More information about the history of the Worcester house can be found at the following locations.
​
Sigma Rho Incorporate Meeting Minutes 1956 & Sigma Rho Incorporate Meeting Minutes 1957
​
Early Lubmbering in the Keewanaw and Worcester Lumber Company, written by Brother Jim LeGray #1260
​
Besides minor repairs, the beautiful Worcester Mansion remained unchanged for eighteen years. Then, on December 31, 1974, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a fire broke out in the house, and by daybreak, all that was left of the house was the towering chimney, still bearing the Greek letters of Sigma and Rho, which adorn the bar at the present house. Cause of the fire was never determined. Fortunately, the fire occurred during the Christmas recess and there was no loss of life, except for the house's mascot, Dog. All of the records of the fraternity were lost forever.
The members were forced to find residence elsewhere, and a basement in a Chassell church was to be the Sig's temporary home for close to a year and a half. Under the guidance of a wise and hard working Incorporate board, a rebuilding program was begun. It was decided to rebuild on the Chassell property, rather than move elsewhere. Efforts to rebuild were delayed by a second fire on August 26, 1975 that destroyed the 75 percent complete new house. Cause of the second fire was suspected to be arson, as temperatures flared by union workers due to the construction being performed by non-union laborers. Finally, on March 19, 1976, the fraternity moved into a brand new chapter house, where the toasts have been many, and the lamps still burn.
As if cursed by the fire bug, a third fire broke out in the house on March 20, 1982, but only minor damage was done to the surrounding insulation and beams. Another fire started up hours later from the smoldering insulation, damaging the chapter room and bar. Damage was estimated at $10,000, with $6,500 being covered by insurance. Another setback, but the determined Sigma Rho house pressed on. Without a dedicated Incorporate board and Alumni, lesser fraternities would have disbanded years before. The tradition of the Sigma Rho fraternity still burns strong in all of the members, and this year, instead of rebuilding, we have added on.
​
News clippings from the time of the fires can be found here:
House Fires
Photos of the 1974 Worcester House fire and its aftermath.
The period from 1976 to the present has seen little change in the house itself, except, of course, an extravagant new chapter room. The tradition and history can be taken in as one sets foot in the new room, styled after the chapter room of the "White House on the Hill."
Since its' founding, Sigma Rho has progressively established the tradition of which it now upholds; in 1896 the first Sigma Rho Fraternity pin was worn; in 1898 the miner's lantern was officially chosen as the recognition pin; in 1905 the House Song was written; in 1921 the Coat of Arms was established; and in 1924, Initiation was extended to a full week.
Sigma Rho was traditionally founded as the first professional mining fraternity in the United States. Today, the members seek all fields of endeavor- the arts, the sciences, and engineering. The clothes are a little different, the hair a bit longer, the classes more crowded, the town a bit larger, the faces a mite younger, and the beer is more expensive; but in 125 years the Sigma Rho spirit has remained unchanged. The house is still home, its' dwellers still Brothers, the snow is still king, there are still many fireside toasts, and the lamps burn on into the night.
New House to Present
The current Sigma Rho house in Chassell through the years.
The enclosed picture came into my possession recently from a gentlemen by the name of Jeff Thiel who owns a business in Calumet that is housed in the building in this picture.
It was in 1952, when this picture was taken, a tavern called "Pitchatinos". Apparently a number of years ago one of the fellows in this picture stopped by the place, met Mr. Thiel, and gave him this picture. Mr. Thiel who knows Mrs Ron Trudell, widow of brother Ron Trudell, Class of 1953, recognized Ron in this picture and gave her a copy. We were visiting with her
in late September, and she showed me the copy. When I got home I found the almost same picture in the 1952 Keweenawan and I started to try to find out who everybody was.
What I do know is that the man on the lowest step is Leo Foco #754, on the next step up is Ron, but I do not know who is on his left (half sitting on the railing), behind Ron on his left and one step up in John Wuthrich. His widow Helen Gitzen Wuthrich was my next door neighbor in Houghton. Helen still lives in Houghton on the Canal Road. Next door neighbor to Tech's President Moroz. To John's left is Al Sanborn. Right behind Ron is Robert "Speed" Burns from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and is the fellow who found the hoist in the old Centennial mine and promoted the retrieval of it. To his right is Pat Papineau. The fellow between Speed and Pat I do not know. On Speed's left is George "Whitey" Adams, top guy is Dale MacDonald (Archon in "54") and to his left is Bob Reall.
The picture in the 1952 Keweenawan did not have Speed Burns in it, but it did have Bob Koski in it. (Leo Foco's and my best guess). The fellows were on their way home from a work session at the mine and stopped at Pitchatino's to quench their thirst.
I have tried to contact Brothers Adams, MacDonald, Papineau, and Burns using information from the Alumni Locator to no avail. I have also asked the Tech Alumni for help, but they can't give me any information directly and are trying to contact the four and asking them to contact me.
Fraternally,
Doug Seeber # 753
The Hoist Crew
The current Sigma Rho house in Chassell through the years.
More information about the Mine Hoist recovery efforts undertaken by the Brothers of Sigma Rho can be found here:
​
Our
Story
Good Old Sigma Rho
My comrades when we are assembled Our cares unto the winds we'll throw And when we meet we'll give the watchword That stands for good old Sigma Rho. Chorus Let clinking glasses be our motto In summer's heat or winter's snow, Our hearts will ever be united In our thoughts of good old Sigma Rho. Each day we think of one another, And strive in every way we know To raise the banner ever higher That stands for good old Sigma Rho. —Chorus And when we are at last divided, And all our different paths we go, Our hearts will ever be united In bonds of good old Sigma Rho. —Chorus
Sigma Rho
Tune---"Fair Harvard"
There's a wind in the north that strikes fresh on the cheek; There are copper ribbed hills, clothed with green; There are sweet scented pine woods a'fringing the shores Of a lake that rolls placid between. And its there I would be with you, Brother of mine, While the breeze through the birch whispers low; And its there I'd be drinking in ruddiest wine To the glory of old Sigma Rho. When the ice on the lake is thick-crusted and strong And the snow heaps up high by the road; When old Boreas hustles the traveler along And the frost devils frolic abroad. Then there in the light of your fire burning bright, With the smoke from our pipes hanging low, We'll replenish our glasses and strike up a stave To the glory of old Sigma Rho. —W. R. H.
Sigma Rho
Tune---"Here's a Health to King Charles"
From the ends of the earth Into college we came, From the towns of our birth', Seeking knowledge and fame. There we gathered with thrift What the Gods did bestow; And their most gracious gift Was thy name, Sigma Rho. We have labored, God wot: Nights of toil and cold fear We have faithfully sought The degree, Engineer. Let it pass; nor conceal That we joyfully throw Larking care to the de'il At thy hail, Sigma Rho. Oversoon we must part, Drift away man by man; It was writ from the start; 'Tis the curse of our clan, Other friendships may fail But our inmost hearts know, Till we foot the last trail, Your are true, Sigma Rho. FIREPLACE VERSE Deep the snow in the swales Drifts in icy carouse, While the frost grips the nails In the side of the house. And the wind's in the north, But our pipes dull and glow; For there's warmth 'round thy hearth And our hearts, Sigma Rho. BANQUET VERSE Jolly Bacchus his cup Let one night overflow But lapped up the last drop Like a good Sigma Rho. Since that time you will find When the banquet lights glow, Brothers all so inclined; Here's your health, Sigma Rho. –W.R.H.
Original Poem Closing
So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan, which moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.