How Florida Upsilon Earned Its Home
By R. S. Pierce, Jr., Florida Upsilon
May 1925 Issue of the The Record
It is not an insignificant fact, I think, only ten years after the re-establishment of the chapter at the University of Florida, that the active men in it, by their own initiative and help of a handful of alumni, should build and almost halfway pay for a $40,000 home, a house dedicated to the brothers who gave their lives in the Great War.
It seems that the idea of eventually building a thoroughly modern fraternity house was paramount in the minds of the early brothers of the chapter. Brother James Johnston, one of the charter members, before leaving for France at the outset of the war, left Florida Upsilon $1,000 in his will. Brother Johnston was killed in action, and his mother very kindly forwarded at once the amount to be used in the construction of the building.
In 1919, through the influence of friends in the city, two corner lots commanding the entrance of the university were secured, and almost immediately paid for. The nest year, several attempts were make to begin an endowment fund, but succeeded only in arousing enough interest to begin an active campaign to collect the yearly alumni notes, which were falling due.
In 1922, it was found that through the collection of these notes and the bequest of Brother Johnston, $3,000,00 had been accumulated. This seemed the time to begin active work. Brother Edwin Hampton, a young attorney in Gainesville, was enthusiastic to begin, and he promised that if every man in the chapter would contribute $100.00 to the fund, he would go out among the alumni and raise enough to begin work. Interest ran high, and the evening of the meeting when the proposition was presented, every man gave his check or his note for that amount. A committed composed of the most active members of the chapter was formed to see the plan through. Brother Hampton immediately took steps to incorporate the chapter, campaign stationery was secured, and the letters began to pour over the state to the alumni, asking their aid and informing them of what they might expect in the future.
These letters brought in some results, but before the trip over the state was realized, the school year closed. As the papers of incorporation had not been completed, it was seen that the chapter would have to have a meeting again in Gainesville, some time in June. Every man promised to return for one day, and what that day arrived, twenty-five men gathered in Brother Hampton’s office, and voted to incorporate the chapter. Within another hour they were gone, hurrying to return to their summer jobs.
Letters continued to be dispatched during the summer, and checks came in slowly. At the beginning of the next term, the chapter was without a house, as the rented one had been given up. It was thought best not to rent another, so that being without a house would make the brothers work harder, and cause the alumni to realize the seriousness of carrying the plan through. It proved a hectic year spent in this way, but it gave the chapter a house. Just before Christmas, Brother Hampton, with three active men, left for a week’s trip over the state. Practically every alumnus they visited, following the example set by the men in the chapter, gave either his check or not for $100.00. On the return from this successful trip enough had been raised or subscribed to secure a loan sufficient to commence work.
The university architects, a firm in Atlanta, had already submitt3ed plans, which conformed to the campus buildings. These plans were accepted, and the contract let. During that year the house progressed. At the close of the term it was found that there were no funds to install heating in the house after it was completed, and at a meeting similar to the one a year previous, every freshman who had been initiated since the first big response of the chapter, pledged $1200.00 each, to be made during the summer, and the heating system went in.
Even then the trouble was not entirely at an end. On returning the next year, the house was not completely finished and all the funds had been used. Not a piece of furniture had been secured. It was three days before school was to begin, rushing season to commence, and not a bed in the house in which to put up the fifty odd brothers, alumni, and prospects who were soon to begin to pile in. However, good fortune again presented itself, and through the influence of another loyal S. A. E. in the city, a furniture firm agreed to back us with enough furniture to completely furnish the house, as it should be done, secured by long-term notes.
All the property owned by the chapter is in the joint names and under the joint control of the active chapter and the alumni. A board of trustees, composed of four alumni, of which Brother Edwin Hampton is the chairman, administers the business relating to the house proper.
The most interesting work of the chapter now seems to be the various means of raising money to care for the indebtedness. Besides the regular revenue which springs from the rental of the rooms, the notes for $2100.00, payable $10.00 a year beginning the first year after graduation, which every initiate is required to sign, are pursued diligently; $30.00 goes in from every initiation fee; fines are deposited; and every alumnus is approached, solicited and even threatened at every opportunity for contributions. A penny box is maintained in each room to collect stray change with which to buy records, and other small necessities.
It has been said the University of Florida is in itself a small Gothic city, nestling amount a profusion of palms and pines. As the lot on which the house was to be built is directly across from the main entrance gate of the University, and thus commands the entrance to the campus, it was thought best to build the house in conformity with the buildings there.
The building is of red red brick, trimmed in stone and dark brown timbers. The picture of the exterior shows the general outline, but omits the changed effect of the rounded dormer windows from the rear view. Mention might be made her that vines have been planted around the northeast wing, and that in a few years their green foliage will cover that part of the house.
The living room, stair hall, and the library are well brought out in the pictures. Back of the library is the kitchen and servant quarters. Leading back from the hall is the matron’s room, and out is three studies and a general bath. There are two stairs to the second floor, which come together in the hallway. On the second floor are located the office, the small stuccoed room over the vestibule and the specially arranged chapter room, situated directly over the living room. There are also six study rooms, a guestroom and a general bath. Both the guest room and matron’s room have private baths. The third floor, well-lighted and well-ventilated by twelve dormer windows, consists of one large room, which the entire chapter uses as a sleeping porch.
There are still some parts of the house which are unfurnished. A tile terrace will eventually be laid, extending from the frond doorway and porch. The northeast wing may be extended to include either more studies, a lounging room or a sun terrace.
A committee is now busy at work planning the landscaping of the grounds, and as soon as the walks are laid, work will commence. It is planned to bank the edge with ferns and shrubs, to line the walks and fill in the angles with palms and dwarf cedars, and to sod the front with an evergreen carpet lawn. Within a year the whole aspect of the house will be changed. For a few months of Florida sunshine and showers will repaint the picture with a beautiful foreground of palms and shrubbery.
It is the professed intention of Florida Upsilon to dedicate her new home to “those brothers of the chapter who gave their lives to their country in the late World War.” In order to make the dedication permanent, a bronze tablet will be placed over the mantel in the living room and inscribed thereon will be their impressions, their names, and circumstances of their death. Overhead will be read: “In that he was faithful, let us cherish his memory.”
Of the seven brothers to be thus honored, four were charter members of the chapter: Brothers Caswell, White, Barkwell, and Johnston. Brother Johnston laid the foundation of the house fund by a bequest of $1,000.00 from his war insurance. Brother Johnston was killed in action, as were Brothers Carson and White. Brother Caswell died in service overseas, and Brothers Barkwell, Badger and Willoughby, who was a student in the S. A. T. C. at the University at the time of his death, died on this side of the water.
Florida Upsilon is very proud of her service flag. Besides the seven gold stars, which it bears, there are fifty-nine others, which proclaim the patriotism of her sons during their country’s hour of need. For fear that it will be destroyed, it is well packed away, and a large tinted picture of it hangs in the chapter room.