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Michigan Alpha Centennial 1964

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    The Centennial Celebration 1964 jointly hosted by the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association and active chapter.

Homecoming 2013

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    Homecoming 2013 at 1437 Washtenaw.

Harmon BBQ 2013

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    BBQ at the chapter house to honor Tom Harmon '41.

Homecoming 2012

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    BBQ revives tradition attracting strong alumni attendance.

Mud Bowl

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    A PHOTO HISTORY OF THE MUD BOWL 1934 to 1997 ~ MICHIGAN'S GREATEST FRATERNITY ATHLETIC RIVALRY During the fall of 1934, Phi Delta Theta (PDT) active member E. Reed Low '37 challenged the "house across the street" (Sigma Alpha Epsilon -- SAE) to a friendly game of "touch" football on the morning of Homecoming in a little used valley in their side yard along South University. Low is considered the founder of the Mud Bowl. The men of PDT and SAE fought a close match which SAE narrowly won 8 - 6. Given the intense rivalry between the two fraternities which were located only a couple hundred feet apart, it was decided that the Mud Bowl would be an annual event. The Mud Bowl became a revered Homecoming tradition as PDT and SAE fiercely battled each year for nothing more than pride. In the early years, the game essentially was a rough intramural football match played on a field that was wetter and shorter than regulation. As the annual contest matured, it was decided that the challenge and entertainment value of the game could be enhanced by tilling the ground and flooding the field. Eventually, the Ann Arbor Fire Department contributed to making the mayhem on the field even more muddy by pouring approximately 10,000 gallons of water into the valley shortly before the game. By kickoff of games played in the 1970s through the 1990s, it was not uncommon for the mud to be more than one foot deep with water covering the west end of the "field." The PDT-SAE rivalry series in the Mud Bowled ended in 1997 after the 60th game between the two fraternities was played. The records about these 60 games are a combination of fact and myth, but no one disputes that this was the greatest fraternity athletic rivalry in the State of Michigan if not the entire nation. The Mud Bowl grew into such a spectacle that crowds numbering in the thousands showed up each year to witness the game. The game attracted coverage by Sports Illustrated, ESPN, ABC Sports as well as campus, Ann Arbor and Detroit media. The Mud Bowl became so popular that national brewing companies -- at first Stroh's, and then Miller -- sponsored the event. Of course, some people have speculated that the presence of sororities playing football, or speedball in some years, during the half-time may have garnered most of the great public interest in the event. Nonetheless the athleticism and intensity of the PDT-SAE matchups proved to be very entertaining for the fans. While the exact win-loss tally is subject to dispute, it is believed that PDT rightly boasts a few more victories in the series than SAE. Given that SAE hand picked the referees for each Mud Bowl, a PDT victory typically required overcoming the opposing players plus the men in stripes. For this reason, PDT's hard fought "losses" remain as much a source of pride as its many victories. If you have pictures or memories of the Mud Bowl to share with the Alumni Association's Heritage Project, please contact us at [email protected].

Michigan Alpha Chapter House of Phi Delta Theta

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Michigan Alpha Chapter House of Phi Delta Theta designed by Alpheus William Chittenden.

Designed by renowned architect Alpheus William Chittenden, the Michigan Alpha Chapter House of Phi Delta Theta is one of his most notable residential buildings. The house, finished during the fall of 1903, is on the Michigan Register of Historic Places. It is located at 1437 Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan near the southeast edge of the University of Michigan's Central Campus.

History

The Michigan Alpha Chapter built their Georgian Revival style house between 1902 and 1903 as the fraternity's first permanent house on campus. Phi Delta Theta was the seventh fraternity established at the University of Michigan on November 28, 1864.[1] The house was built with funds from alumni, faculty members and active chapter members.

The three story house built by Koch Brothers construction firm replaced a mansion built on the site by University of Michigan Librarian Andrew Ten Brook in the 1860s.[2] The house was constructed with red brick on a raised foundation featuring a projecting central portico entrance supported with doric columns. The house has thirteen bedrooms and can accommodate more than thirty residents.

On March 22, 1983, the State of Michigan Historic Preservation Office placed the house on the Michigan Register of Historic Places.[3] The house is considered historically and architecturally significant. It is tied with Delta Upsilon's house as the oldest fraternity house on the University of Michigan campus still being used by the organization that built it.  Both houses opened during 1903.

In the early 2000s, the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association spent approximately $500,000 to completely renovate the house and restore its historic integrity.[4] Today, the exterior of the house is almost identical to Chittenden's original design. Elements of the interior finish were modified following major fires in the early 1970s and building code upgrades during the recent renovation; however, most of the original floor plan remains unchanged.

Reference and Notes

  1. ^ "Phi Delta Theta".
  2. ^ "Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program". Ann Arbor District Library.
  3. ^ "Michigan Register of Historic Places". State of Michigan Historic Preservation Office.
  4. ^ "The Sword & Shield", Michigan Alpha Alumni Association (Vol. LXXVIII No. 2, Fall 2007).

External links


Additional References: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Alpha_Chapter_House_of_Phi_Delta_Theta"

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North Porch Renovated with $12,750 in Donations from '50s Era Alums

Long-Planned Project Becomes a Reality Thanks to Generous Alums

North Porch Renovated1 [Posted December 15, 2009]  Thanks to a very generous group of 1950s era alumni headed by John Buck ‘54, the Alumni Association was able to rebuild the North Porch during the summer and officially dedicate it as reopened on the morning of Homecoming 2009. 

John stepped up and gained the support of Dick Young ‘51, Doug Roby ‘56, Bob Leland ‘58 and Bernie Rinella ‘58.  The five alums donated a total of $12,750 to for the project.  On behalf of his fellow donors, John cut the ribbon on the door to dedicate the North Porch during a short ceremony attended by alums and active chapter members.

The Alumni Association wishes to express our deepest gratitude for the commitment of these loyal brothers in helping us transmit our 106 year old chapter house to the next generation of Phis in excellent shape.  You are models for all of us in choosing a project which contributes to making us proud of our chapter house. 

Thank you John, Dick, Doug, Bob and Bernie!

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Chapter House Back Driveway Renovated with Concrete During Fall of 2009

Alumni Support of Annual Fund Makes $35,000 Project Possible

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[Posted November 1, 2009] View of the renovated back parking lot from South University.

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2008 Chapter House Maintenance Report

House in Great Shape, but More Work Needed

Keeping Michigan Alpha's 105 year old chapter house in top shape is a mission of the Alumni Association that never ends.  Accomplishing this mission would not be possible without the strong support of alumni.   

The chapter house is presently in the best shape it has been in decades.  The Alumni Association invested approximately $500,000 during the early 2000s in a major renovation to improve the structural soundness, compliance with Ann Arbor Building Codes, security, historical integrity and comfort of the facility.

Each summer the Alumni Association does planned maintenance and improvements when financially feasible.  In coming years, we hope to perform a number of upgrades to the house interior, porches, driveway/parking areas and yard.

Thanks to alums' generous donations to the Annual Fund, the Alumni Association was able to perform approximately $40,000 worth of significant maintenance projects during 2008 including:

Continue reading "Chapter House 2008 Maintenance Report" »

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