LXA History

LCA

GIZ

Brief History and

Timeline

The Essentials

The first Greek Letter organizations began to from at Denison around 1881

Sigma Chi
Beta Theta Pi
And later Phi Gamma Delta

The Sycamore club was founded privately in 1900 (estimate) and publicly June 23, 1910.
The Original Sycamores were: W.S. Webb, S.R. Webb, R.E. Nottingham, R.B. Miller, E.J. Shumaker
June 11, 1919 The Sycamores became the GIZ of LCA.
GIZ was the 56^th chapter to be founded.
The original house was “The Ranch” from 1915 through 1944
LCA dwelled on West Broadway from 1944 until 1953
The current house was completed in 1953
In 1995 the house was sold to the university and renamed to honor Clark and Irma Morrow
Clark is our oldest living alumnus, who was also a professor here at Denison University, as well as the oldest practicing lawyer in Ohio. He currently lives in Granville.

Denison University and Greek Organizations

In 1805 pioneers ventured from Granville, Mass. to central Ohio where they settled Granville, OH. By 1831 Granville Literary and Theological Institution would be founded. Shortly after this the first “literacy societies” were formed, which were the first student run organizations at the institution, and somewhat similar to fraternities. These were the Calliopean Literacy Society (1836), and the Franklin Lit. Soc. (1842).

By 1840 the institution had graduated its first class and the name of the institution was change to Granville College in 1845. Ten years later, the campus was moved one mile westward to the present day hill top campus, and Denison University was founded. Next to it would dwell Shepardson College. Shepardson was the female counterpart to the all male Denison University.

In 1868 the first Greek Letter organizations were beginning to form, however the administration was quick to put a ban on pledging. It was not until 1881 was this ban lifted. Upon this news the first fraternities were quick to make their appearance. Sigma Chi, and Beta Theta Pi were the first, and Phi Gamma Delta, would join the two in 1885.

During the same time frame, Shepardson College and Denison University were getting closer and closer linked, and by 1927 they would merge to become a single institution, consisting of over 1000 students.

The Sycamores

The Sycamore club was likely founded privately in 1900, however there are conflicting dates. It was not until June 23, 1910 that they were publicly founded, to be similar to many other already existing fraternities. The original Sycamores were:

Class Year	Name
1912	W.S. Webb, S.R. Webb
1913	R.E. Nottingham
1914	R.B. Miller
Prep	E.J. Shumaker

In 1915 the club was officially incorporated. Their name comes from the tree that was outside their original house on Summit Street that was that old Granville Hotel. The colors of The Sycamore club were was brown and white.

In 1916 The Sycamores wrote a petition to become a chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, 85 years after Denison University was founded. However, this petition was either not fully submitted, or was turned down.

Since the time the sycamores were founded publicly they set high standards for themselves in both academic excellence, and participating in the extra curricular activities (Adytum 1919). These standards would become the building blocks for the Gamma Iota Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at Denison University.

The Charter

In 1918/9 The Sycamores petitioned to become a chartered chapter of The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. This was drive was headed by Eri J. Shumaker, and Dudly Dawson. The Charter was approved on June 11, 1919, transforming The Sycamore Club into the Gamma Iota Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha. Gamma Iota was the 56^th chapter to be founded nationally, and the 4^th in Ohio, after Western Reserve, Akron, Ohio, and Cincinnati.

At the time of the charter, most of the 92 members of The Sycamore Club would become initiated members of LCA.

The House

The quest for the perfect house has resulted in many moves for Gamma Iota. Initially the Sycamores started by living in the old Granville Hotel on Summit Street. This was not long lived, and by 1815 they had moved to “The Ranch House” at 590 West Broadway. The house was purchased leased and then purchased from Miss Virginia Thorn. It resides on West Broadway, 7 blocks from the former Fiji and Beta houses. Because of its distance from the other houses, it was said to be on “the farm.” Its nickname would lead the 1930’s now Lambda men to host an annual “ranch” party, complimented with a horse shoe throwing tournament (complete with a plaque for the winners).

When 1944 rolled around “The Ranch” was sold, and the men moved into a temporary residence at 325 W. Broadway known as “The Doll House.” They lived there until 1953 when the House on fraternity row was built. While there was hope to build a house on the row sooner, it would have to wait because of high inflation, as well as World War II. In 1953 the university increased the house value range to $150,000 and would finance up to 2/3 of the total cost for the house, at 4%, bank rate, interest. They also had very low monthly payments.

The highly improved financing options offered by the university inspired LCA to build as well as S.A.E. William Gehron was hired to draw the plans for the new Lambda house. Shortly there after the house was complete and the members soon occupied the house. The house was dedicated to: Alfred J. Johnson ’18, longtime business Manager at Denison; Burt T. Hodges ’20, longtime Treasurer & Secretary Board Trustees; George D. Morgan ’24, longtime Professor of Biology; Harold A. Rosene ’24, Cleveland news paper executive; E. Clark Morrow ’30, Newark lawyer and longtime instructor of Const. Law; Abe Martin (this from Joe McMahon’s letter – the directory of the chapter [1919-1962] gives Ira W 1935, Kenneth J. 1927, Lloyd F. 1925 all Ohioans)

As time passed and chapter size grew renovations were done on the house. In 1961 an addition was put on in order to make room for 9 more men. Again, in 1886 renovations would go underway in order to spruce up the near 35 year old house. The spring of 1987 brought about the completion of the deck around the back of the house.

In 1995, the administration required fraternities to sell the houses to the University. The house was sold for $200,000. $180,000 of this is to be returned to Lambda Chi Alpha ten years after the sales date. This money is either supposed to go toward a new lodge space, or to a scholarship trust fund, much like the Howe Memorial Scholarship fund.

Upon the sale, the house was renamed to Irma and Clark Morrow house. However, because of Clark’s pride in the fraternity, he only accepted this honor after he was assured that the Greek Letters would be unable to stay with the house.

Other Information

Gamma Iota Lambda Chi’s to have died in service to their country:

· WWI