How Alpha Theta Came To Live At 532 Beacon St

Dan Craig '03, Corporate Board President

As we celebrate 130 years of the chapter, we should note that we have another anniversary coming up in a couple of years. 2014 will mark the 90th anniversary of our ownership of 532 Beacon St. Before 532 Beacon St, the chapter rented a house further down Beacon Street in Brookline. This was a convenient enough location to reach the Boylston Street campus of MIT, but as the Institute began building its new campus on the other side of the river, MIT's fraternities fretted about what to do. Alpha Theta needed a new location.

After much consideration, the chapter decided to stay on the Boston side of the river so as to avoid the heavy tax burden of Cambridge. In 1919, three years after MIT's move to Cambridge, Alpha Theta began renting the former home of the late Francis W. Kitteridge at 532 Beacon St. Five years later, again after considerable debate, the chapter purchased the house through the generous financial support of many alumni, including founding member Coleman Du Pont. The purchase price was $40,000, or a little over $500,000 in today's dollars.

Incidentally, the reason they bought the house was because the Kitteridge family declined to renew the lease and wanted to turn the building into doctors offices unless it could be sold. The chapter was looked in vain for a suitable replacement to rent. They didn't want to buy the house because they were concerned about falling property values.

Since 1919, 532 Beacon Street has been the home to roughly 1000 Alpha Thetas, and brothers have been working on it ever since. Many of us recall fond memories of work weeks at the start of the fall semester. Many individuals have contributed their own craftsmanship throughout the house. Major work has been performed a few times most recently in 1977 when the heating, plumbing, kitchen, and rear windows were all upgraded. But after 35 years of wear and tear, it's time to refurbish the chapter house so that it can be a living and learning home for brothers for decades to come.

Funding such an ambitious project does not come easy, but thankfully we have two very dedicated and generous alumni leading the capital campaign, Doug Bailey, class of 72', and Karl Büttner, class of '87, leading the Beacon to the Future campaign to renovation and restore 532 Beacon Street.