It was spring of 1869.  The university founded in 1865 was in its first full year of operation. But already the Greek secret societies were dominant, leading to considerable jealousy, exclusiveness and rancor. The first attempt to counter the secret Greek fraternities was the short-lived “Independent Organization.” Several of its leaders began exploring the founding of a new kind of fraternity.

Led by G. F. Behringer, ’69, a DU from the University of the City of N. Y., and with the support of the Hamilton and Rochester chapters, the men began meeting at the Ithaca Hotel. An early history of the chapter recounts the story:

At the close of the first university year at least six fraternities were represented by organized chapters.  After several secret societies had been organized, and had given the usual evidences of their character, a movement was initiated to form an anti-secret society.

On Monday May 17^th 1869, at 4 P.M., in the parlor of the Ithaca Hotel, the Cornell Chapter of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity was formally organized, consisting of the following seven members:  G. F. Behringer, J. O’Neill, T. B. Cornstock, R. O. Kellogg, G. W. Ingraham, E. D. Leffingwell, and L. F. Judson.  The chapter met with a severe reception at the hands of secret society men, as well as of some of the members of the “Independent” organization.  The former attacked the chapter as a whole, and the members thereof in particular, with malice and derision.  The columns of the university paper (The Cornell Era) were filled with vituperation and abuse. …

But despite all opposition the chapter grew in numbers, exerting a positive influence for good, and demonstrating beyond the shadow of a doubt that all the benefits claimed by secret fraternities can be obtained without resorting to secrecy, and for this very reason, all the evils and dangers averted, which invariably accompany college secret societies.

The chapter was represented at the convention of the Fraternity, held June 9^th & 10^th 1869 at Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y. [later, Colgate University] and was formally admitted and welcomed to the fellowship of the Fraternity.  At the close of the first University year, the chapter numbered 14 members (active), two of whom were of the first class of graduates.  So far from being the “scum” of secret societies or of the university, no less than 7 prizes were taken up to that time by members of the chapter; and quite a number received honorable mention. 

Alumni Association 

For several decades after its founding the Cornell chapter met at various locations in Ithaca, including the Ithaca Hotel and a rooming house on Eustus Street (College Avenue).  With the evential goal being the constructon of a chapter house, alumni leaders in 1882 began discussing the creation of an alumni association.

On June 14, 1882, the Cornell Delta Upsilon Association was born.  Present were John H. Comstock ’74 — of Comstock Hall — and two future presidents of Stanford University: David Starr Jordan ’72, Stanford’s first, and John C. Branner ’74, its second. 

 

CDUA’s First Minutes

DU’s First House and the Great Fire

As Designed and Built

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DU’s original house, built in 1891, was considered English Tudor.  The design by a young DU architect, Allyn Packard ’86 of Chicago, was based on the great hunting lodges of the Adirondacks and Northwest. 

 

Great Fire of 1909

“Fraternity House Burns,” New York Times Reports

On Christmas Eve 1909 fire almost destroyed DU. According to the Cornell Alumni Magazine, the fire was discovered about 5:30 o’clock in the morning by two brothers, who were the only persons in the house at the time. The loss was estimated at $20,000. The house was insured for $16,000 and there was $3,000 insurance on the furniture. The first floor and basement were almost uninjured except by water. While the fire was burning in the upper stories all the books in the library and practically all the furniture on the first floor were carried out of the house and saved.

“The cause of the fire is not known; members of the chapter said that it might have been started by rats gnawing matches,” CAM reported. Stoddart and Bennett were sleeping in a room known as “the harem,” on the second floor at the west side of the house. They were awakened by smoke, and went into the hallway, where they found a little flame on the west wall. After attempting to extinguish the flames with an extinguisher, they telephoned the Huestis street hose company. Several of the downtown companies were also called. The roof fell in about 7:20 o’clock, but it was after 8 before the fire was under control.

The house was built in 1891 at a cost of about $25,000. Plans for rebuilding have not yet been completed. Up to the height of the second story the structural walls are probably sound, and the house may be rebuilt practically on the former lines. It will possibly be enlarged by the addition of a wing on the northeast corner.

A New DU Rises in 1910

Cornell Alumni News Reports

In early 1910 the alumni association hired noted New York City architect F.Y. Joannes, Arch. ’00 to design the reconstruction of the chapter house. Later that same year, the Cornell Alumni News reported on the work in progress:

“The new house of Delta Upsilon, which is almost completed, is built on the site of the old house at South and West Avenues. The old foundations have been used except on the east side where the house has been enlarged 12 feet. The house will be ready for occupancy about Christmas time.

“The basement contains the kitchen and pantry, but not the dining room as in the former building. That room will be on the main floor, and will be 42 feet long by 26 feet wide. Besides the dining room, on the main floor there will be a chapter room and library on the north, a reception hall in the middle and a music room at the south of the house. The second and third floors will contain the studies and sleeping rooms. These floors are arranged in suites and will accommodate thirty men. Two separate stairways lead from the basement to the top floor and it is thus made possible to divide the house when occasion may require.

“The third floor has a sleeping loggia, which is ample for twelve beds. In its exterior the house will be similar to the one that burned last winter. The first floor will be of brick and the remainder of stucco. It will be of slow burning construction and divided into three sections by fireproof walls.” [Oct. 19, 1910]

To see more pictures of DU 100 years ago, visit the DU Scrapbook.

More Fires Strike DU

1916: Basement Fire Over Christmas Break

The Cornell Alumni News in January 1916 reported that “a fire in the basement of the Delta Upsilon lodge … practically ruined” the basement, but did little damage to the upper floors.  “The prompt work with a battery of fire extinguishers” by three undergraduates living in over the break kept the fire within bounds until the firemen arrived.  The cause was not ascertained.

1919: Third Blaze in Nine Years Does $30,000 Damage

In January 1919 the DU House was badly damaged by fire, which was discovered about 6:30 pm on a Sunday evening, when tiles from the roof fell through a skylight and tumbled on the stairway underneath. Fifteen brothers holding a meeting at the time in the drawing room on the first floor.

Investigation led to the discovery of flames in the attic and an alarm was telephoned. The Fire Department responded promptly, but when the companies arrived, it looked to the firemen as well as the spectators as if the building were doomed.

The firemen were able to check the flames in the attic. The roof was burned away and the attic was destroyed, but the lower portion of the house was uninjured.  The water damage to the lower floors and furnishings was considerable.  No one was seriously injured, but there were many minor injuries.

While the cause of the fire has not been definitely determined, Chief Reilly is of the opinion that it may have been caused by defective wiring, as the electric wires were not in conduits. Another theory is that the fire started in the chimney.

The fire of Sunday night was the third in the history of the local chapter of Delta Upsilon. The first occurred at 5.45 on the morning of December 24, 1909, when the house was completely destroyed. There was only about $1,800 insurance on the building at that time. At 11.30 the night of January 2, 1916, a fire broke out in the basement of the house, but it was checked by the Fire Department before it got past the first floor.

The rescued furniture has been removed to the Telluride House, recently vacated by the Officers’ Club, and here the fraternity will live temporarily.

Credit: Cornell Alumni News, Jan. 30, 1919