February 7, 1826 Western Reserve University was established in Hudson, OH. April 26, 1826 the first cornerstone was laid.
At the opening of the school year of 1826, there were a total of 76 men enrolled at Western Reserve University. By 1847, there were 3 National Fraternities established.
They were:
- ΑΔΦ established in 1841
- ΔΥ established in 1847
- the Βeta chapter of ΒΘΠ established in 1841
In the spring of 1868, the brothers of the Βeta chapter of ΒΘΠ decided that they would give up their charter if they could become members of ΔKE .
It was customary, at this time, to go east after 1 or 2 years at Western Reserve to finish your degree in New England or New York. Also many men traveled east for their graduate studies.
Main reason: ΔKE was among the most highly respected and well known fraternity in the east (of her 25 chapters, 15 were in New England or New York), and ΒΘΠ was not.
The Brothers decided to write to several ΔKE chapters to inquire about petitioning for membership. The response was so strong that in 1868 every member of the Βeta chapter of ΒΘΠ signed the petition requesting a ΔKE chapter.
At the ΔKE convention in Amherst, on October 8-9, 1868 Brother Elwood Williams presented their petition.
The Convention granted their petition and a charter was issued with the date November 17, 1868. They were chartered as Beta Chi , the 38th chapter of ΔKE .
The Chapter was installed on December 1, 1868 by Brother Edward Heaton – Phi class of 1869. There were 16 charter members:
- Brother Williams – class of 1869
- Brothers Sherman, Warner, and Williamson – class of 1870
- Brothers Baker, Baldwin, Beach, Dodge, Hanford, Hine, Kenna, Latimer, and Vance – class of 1871
- Brothers Gaylord, Hoyt, and Sherwood – class of 1872
In 1882 Western Reserve University moved from Hudson to its present location in Cleveland. This event was a major demarcation in Beta Chi History and events are often referred as pre or post move.
From 1868 to 1897 Beta Chi rented various rooms to use as meeting houses. These rooms were always given the title “Beta Chi Hall.”
In 1897 the Brothers of Beta Chi formed a housing corporation and after much deliberation purchased their first house. This move was spurred by the fact the ΑΔΦ , their long time rival, had recently purchased a house of their own. The new Beta Chi house was not much better than the rooms that they had rented, but it was theirs and it was only the first of many.
1900 the second Beta Chi House was purchased. It was located on Adelbert road. For the first time out of town Brothers lived in the house. The third Beta Chi House was located on Murray Hill Road. A year later Beta Chi moved into its fourth house, located on Cornell, several blocks from Euclid Ave.
In 1914 the Beta Chi moved into its fifth house. The Kendall House at 2044 Cornell (a couple hundred feet from Euclid Ave). At the time of the move there were 16 Brothers in the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE . Upon moving to what they had hoped would be their final residence, the chapter dropped much of the secrecy it had maintained throughout the years. For the first time, Brothers met in public and the names of brothers were not hidden.
Unfortunately the house on Cornell was not the final residence of the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE . In the years to come they moved to the house only to be known in a photograph from 1935. It is believed to be located on Bellflower and Juniper/East 115th. The chapter remained in the house until it was dissolved in 1971.
The Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE was dissolved on May 31, 1971. In an effort to drive fraternities and gain control of all land in the University Circle area, the university raised the rent from $125/month to $450/month. Also they were ordered by fire inspectors to make several renovations, including installing fire proof doors and fire proof carpeting. The Brothers estimated the total cost of renovations would exceed $2,000. Unable to pay the rent or comply with the new fire codes, the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE sold their house and discontinued operations.
April 28, 1990 the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE was rechartered. The refounding brothers were:
- Bert John Austin
- Huai Chai “Alex” Chang
- Michael Anthony Laurich
- Eric Morales
- Nils Henrik Nielson
- Duane Edward Norris
- Patrick Robert Wilson
The Chapter was given Suite 330 in Tippit as a place of residence. By the next school year, 1991-1992, they had grown to encompass the adjoining suite, 340.
Then in the fall of 1992 the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE made its move from Tippit to the bottom floor of Murray Hill House. The ΑΧΩ Sorority occupied the top floors during the 1992-1993 school year. The following year the ΦΜ Sorority occupied the top floors. During 1994-1996 the ΑΦ Sorority occupied the top floors.
Then in the fall of 1996 the Beta Chi Chapter of ΔKE moved into its current house at 2253 Murray Hill Road.
