  “A place that goes on whether your there or not, that you come back to and find waiting with welcome. “ There are no words, verses, lyrics, or choruses to adequately describe what it felt like to see the library restored, the living room restored, and the dining room restored, as well as work in the basement. It is warm and embracing. It felt satisfyingly wonderful to sit, if for just a minute or two, in the restored library after the dedication of Joseph Sebastian Boulos Library at the end of September. The theme, tone, and atmosphere of the day was one of pure gratitude and celebration. We celebrated the beautiful, dedicated life of Joseph Sebastian Boulos, our fraternity brother, for his single-minded, strong-willed service to our nation. Second, we celebrated, with simple gratitude and satisfaction, the fascinating detail of the elegant restorative work that had been done in the dining room, living, room, library, and downstairs. The brothers who first lived in the house in 1925-1926 would be pleased with how the house has been architecturally refreshed and in good order. After all, what we have accomplished is a direct reflection our fraternal culture and values, a culture of greatness and engaged involvement from generation to generation for the past 120 years. Being an Omega Mu Fiji took on new meaning, and being a backwards thinking person, I could not help but think how the past and present always exist in each and every room in The Castle, a timeless fraternal legacy, a multilayered fraternal narrative, of good men who lived together in The Castle who continue to embody the old Q.T.V. fraternal truth: "Enjoyment, sociability, and the best interest of the brothers through life."  Intangible and invisible, in many cases, their footsteps, stories, friendships, and memories are still within the well-walked rooms of our hallowed Castle. They are the strong, spirited, fraternal roots of our brotherhood, and we honor them. As I looked around the library and the living room, many pictures of brothers came to mind and I just smiled at the happiness that I lived a balanced, full life here, and fraternity life is always a balance of romanticism and responsible discipline, alive and always interesting, and that is the way it always should be. It is often said, “You get out what you put in.” That is rare now, it seems to me, but something of purpose and life-long consequence does happen if you do. That is elemental to achieve life-sustaining success in anything. I will always be thankful for being an Omega Mu Fiji. Second, I could not help but smile because the library, like many other sections of our hallowed Castle, was in a state of ruin, degradation, disrepair, and that we have all helped restore and persevere them through conscientious effort because we care about it’s architectural beauty and historic heritage. Lovingly and carefully, diligently and tirelessly, much has been accomplished. For what has been already accomplished, we are thankful, but for the restorative work yet to be done we look forward to seeing it soon. And, we will get there because our forward-thinking determination will not alter, and the results will be equally gratifying. Our architectural Phoenix is rising. We know this well because our brothers believed the same thing in that intense year of fraternal labor, hope, and faith in helping build the timeless nobility of the Castle in 1924-1925 with earnest, nonnegotiable purpose. That is our distinctive, collaborative character. It was intimate and very personal for me to simply to sit, for a moment or two, in the Joseph Sebastian Boulos Memorial Library and be simply grateful for the restored beauty of The Castle, and the invisible, intrinsic grace of good fraternal friends. The synthesis of each creates a matchless treasure: our 120 year Omega Mu brotherhood. A brotherhood rich in determinative value and historic sentiment. We embrace our past, yet we are always new, and we are always getting better as the oldest fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. Phi Gamma Delta will continue to have a strong, shaping effect on generations of future brothers, providing them with purposeful direction in the broad range of careers that they are each called to serve with distinctive character and vitality. It was, indeed, a day of tremendous emotion in seeing the fraternal cohesion of many brothers coming together to honor Joseph Sebastian Boulos, and in seeing the beautiful restorative work in The Castle. The visual effect of seeing it all together was deeply gratifying, and I felt a narrative connection as to how the first group of undergraduate brothers must have felt when they first walked into the Castle in 1925: thankful! They must have felt that they had struck gold at 79 College Avenue, and I believe we all felt that way when we walked though the front door, too. Time marches on, and we fraternally move on with a fraternally rich combination of collaborative generational character, and principled fraternal persistence. That has been our way, and it remains our way of doing things. Consequently, we will continue to have a beautiful, generationally united fraternal storyline for another 120 years. It has been, and it is, a great thing to be an Omega Mu Fiji brother, and I know that brothers in the future will feel the same way. Proud to be Fiji.  Chip Chapman  “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge
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   January 15th, 1912 “Brother Garland reported on music, stating that music had been purchased for $2.19.”  January 22nd, 1912 “Brother Pope moved that the so called ‘seven o’clock rule’ be placed in effect until the end of finals. Carried.”  “Brother Chandler moved that there be no card playing during finals week. Lost.”  February 5th, 1912 “Brother Shields moved that the black-ball system be abolished. Lost.”  “Brother Cleaves moved that the committee which fixes up old records take the matter of better protection of the original charter into their hands. Carried.”  February 12th, 1912 “Brother Cleaves moved that the study floors be waxed before Thursday evening. Carried.”  “Brother Cleaves moved that a committee of five be appointed to make arrangements for the annual boat ride. Carried.”  February 19th, 1912 “Brother Long reported that a letter to the alumni seems to be the only advisable means of interesting them in the $100,000 fund.”  W.P.I brothers in front of their house “Brother Ballou moved that Bro. Cleaves be our delegate to Iota Mu’s Pig Dinner at Worcester. Carried.”  March 8th, 1912 “Brother Smiley moved that the bros. call on President Alley next week. Carried.”  March 11th, 1912 “Brother Haskell read a letter from Bro. Elwell, QTV, lately initiated by the Yale Chapter.”  March 18th, 1912 “Brother Smiley moved that a committee of three be appointed to work in conjunction with the work committee to fix up the tennis courts. Carried.”  “Brother Pond moved that a special meeting be called in two days to discuss the new men. Carried.  “Brother Pond moved that a committee of three be appointed to arrange a series of AlumniSmokers. Carried.”  April 22nd, 1912 “Brother George moved that alumni be charged one dollar for the alumni banquet. Carried.”  April 29th, 1912 “Brother Cleaves moved that two brothers be selected to attend the Beta Theta Pi reception. Carried.”  “Brother Long moved that the annual banquet and reunion be called The QTV Banquet and Reunion. Carried.”  May 6th, 1912 “Brother Martin moved that a committee be appointed to look after Mrs. Harrington’s entertainment.” May 13th, 1912 “Brother Haskell moved that Mrs. Harrington’s salary be raised to $30.00 per month for the upcoming academic year. Carried.”  October 7th, 1912 “Brother Thomas reported for the committee on social affairs. When a house party is intended the date and names of the chaperones should be handed into this committee. All parties shall end at 12 o’clock. Report was carried.”  “Brother Hart spoke on behalf of the alumni, stating that they were pleased with lasts years work and that the new year was starting well. He also spoke on the repairs being done on the house by the Q.T.V. building association.”  “Brother Martin moved that the name of Bradbury be passed around the hall. Carried.” October 14th, 1912 “Brother Thurrell moved that each brothers assessed a few cents to buy flowers for the dinning room tables each week. Carried.”  The dinning room in our first Phi Gamma Delta House October 14th, 1912 “Brother Thurrell moved that each brothers assessed a few cents to buy flowers for the dinning room tables each week. Carried.”  October 21st, 1912 “Brother Towle reported for the work comm. stating that $7.70 would paper the parlor and $10.50 for the front hall.”  “Brother Abbott moved that a comm. of 1 or 2 be appointed to see that the scholarship cup and pictures in the library be properly inscribed. Carried.”  November 11th, 1912 “Brother Long reported that the work comm. would post work assignments each week for the brothers to do.” “Brother Long moved that brothers not be allowed to get breakfast past the regular hour. Lost.”  November 18th, 1912 “Brother Haskell reported that Brother Bacon would be glad to help in any way in remodeling the house.” “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge   January 7th, 1913 “Brother Creighton moved that a committee of three be appointed to look into the matter of the house robbery. Carried.” January 13th, 1913 “Brother Doak reported that the robbers had been caught and dealt with by law.” “Brother Brewer reported that presents had been purchased for the housemother, cook, and maid for the sum of $9.25.”  “Brother Thomas moved that one brother represent Phi Gamma Delta in a meeting of fraternities to arrange a suitable floral tribute for Mrs. Balentine’s funeral. Carried.”   February 17th, 1913 “Brother Wetherbee reported that they were waiting to hear from Q.T.V. brothers who had expressed interest in becoming Phi Gamma Delta brothers.”  February 24th, 1913 “Brother Doak reported that next Monday would be a good time to have initiation.”  March 10th, 1913 “Brother Long reported a gift of a year’s subscription of George Banta’s Banta’s Greek Exchange.  “Brother Norcross reported on his trip to Williamstown to attend the installation of the Iota Chapter at Williams College.”  April 21st, 1913 “Brother Brewer read a letter from the manager of the Musical Clubs asking if we could house some men of the Colby Club for the joint concert. Carried.” April 28th, 1913 “Brother Long suggested a date of May 21st for the alumni smoker. Carried.”  Brother Malcom E. Fassett “Brother Haskell moved that a letter be mailed to Brother Fassett on the event of his marriage. Carried.”  May 12th, 1913 “Brother Thurell gave a snappy talk for the Scholarship Comm. and give the house an idea of how we stand along this line.”  May 20th, 1913 “Brother Wetherbee moved that the house go to Dean Hart’s for an informal surprise party for him. Carried.”  May 26th, 1913 “Brother Hanson moved that Phi Gamma Delta put a baseball team into the Inter-Frat League next fall. Carried.”  “Brother Wetherbee moved that the steward take charge of the alumni banquet on June 9th. Carried.”  September 22nd, 1913 “Brother Haskell moved that the steward be allowed to engage a second maid to assist in the work around the house with the understanding that she wash the dishes at night and clean all the study rooms. Carried.”  September 29th, 1913 “Brother Hanson moved that a committee of three be in charge of the initiation banquet. Carried.”  Brother Edson F. Hitchings “Brother Bradbury reported that Brother Hitchings had offered to pay for the drinking fountain.” “Brother Hanson moved that thanks must be extended to Brother Hitchings for his generosity. Carried.”  “Brother Garrison suggested that all the brothers get girls for the Colby game and have an informal party in the evening. Carried.”  “Brother Haskell reported that a Q.T.V. quarterly had been found in the library and suggested that we have it bound. Carried.”  “Brother Thurrell moved that a comm. of two look into the matter of purchasing an electric flatiron. Carried.”  Brother Charles E. Stickney “Brother Haskell moved that bro. Stickney act as our graduate representative to the next Ekklesia. Carried.”  October 20th, 1913 “Brother Abbott moved that we accept the Mock Trial as part of our initiation. Carried.”  Fiji chapter house at Brown University “Brother Haskell read initiations from Pi Iota, Pi Rho, and Alpha Chi asking that we send delegates to their initiations.” Delegates - Brother Hall to W. P. I. chapter. Brother Garrison to Amherst and Brown. Carried.”  “Brother Haskell moved that the Christmas Party be strictly formal and last for three days.” Carried.”  November 17th, 1913 “Brother Hall reported that the cost in building a new refrigerator would be $100.”  December 8th, 1913 “Brother Haskell moved that the house stand behind the inter-frat council’s ruling not to recognize Lambda Chi Alpha. Carried.”   “Brother Norcross moved that the Music Comm. be instructed to make necessary repairs to the pianos. Carried.”  December 15th, 1913 “Brother Thurrell reported for the Scholarship Comm. stating that many of the bros. were not doing enough work in their studies.”  “Brother Hanson moved that suitable Christmas presents be purchased for the house mother, maid, and cook. Carried.” “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge   January 12th, 1914 “Brother Thomas read hi s report of the Ekklesia.”  January 19th, 1914 “Brother Randall moved that the seven o’clock study rule go into effect Friday Jan. 25th at noon and last until the following Friday noon. Carried.”  February 2, 1914 “Brother Hall spoke for the rushing comm. in regard to the list of prospective Maine men now in the hands of the M Club.”  “A letter from the N.Y. Fiji Club in regard to interesting our brothers in this club.”  Robert Thurrell 
“Brother Thurrell urged more studying in the house and that all ranks and grades should be handed in to him as soon as possible.”  March 2nd, 1914 “Brother Creighton reported that the invitations for the house party would be sent out Monday night.”  “Brother Haskell read a letter from the Allegheny chapter extending an invitation to Omega Mu for a delegate to their house opening.”  March 23rd, 1914 “Brother Hall moved that each brother at our meetings state what he has done for the college and the fraternity. Carried.”  Brother Anthony P. Schneider “Brother Schneider moved that a new comm. of five be appointed to bring new spirit into the rushing process. Carried.” April 13th, 1914 “Brother Thurrell reported that a complete new ceiling would be placed in the dining room at a cost of $15.00. Also, the ceiling would be repaired in the music room. April 28th, 1914 “Brother Hall reported for the Tennis Court Comm. saying expenditures on the clay court amounted to about $10.00.”   “Brother Haskell reported on the Outing Comm. suggested that the bros invite their girls to the next outing.”  “Bros Thomas, Hall, Norcross, Abbott, and Haskell gave advice on cooperation and fraternity spirt.” May 11th, 1914 “Brother Schneider moved that we drape our pins and charter in respect for the death of Brother Sherman, and that a copy be kept in the chapter records, printed in the university and fraternity publications, and senior to his family. Carried.”  May 18th, 1914 “The name of Ernest Coobroth was passed around the hall. The ballot was clear on Coolbroth.” May 25th, 1914 “Bother Thomas moved that our alumni members indebted to the house be given until Oct. 1st to pay their bills. If not paid by this time, their names be recommended to the board of Archons for suspension. Carried.”   “The seniors gave short talks of parting advice to the chapter.”  "World War I started on June 28th, 1914"   September 28th, 1914 “Brother Edes moved that a comm. of one be appointed to take charge of binding our music. Carried.”  “Brother Garrison moved that a comm. of three be appointed to make plans for fixing up the smoking room. Carried.”  October 5th, 1914 “Brother Hart spoke a few words urging the brothers to keep up the scholarship of the house.”  October 19th, 1914 “Brother Hanson read a letter from Bro. Chambers related to buying a cabinet for the preservation of the chapter records.”   November 9th, 1914 “Brother Phillips moved that the custom of singing and having a social time at the supper table be established, with the understanding that smoking be allowed. Lost.” “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge     Willett C. Barrett  January 11th, 1915 “Brother Barrett was elected as Omega Mu’s delegate to the Iota Mu initiation at Williams College. Carried.”  “Brother Eddy reported that the last house party cost $60 more than the $200 budget.”  January 18th 1915 “Brother Hall moved that the cost of boarding in the house be raised $1.00 per week. Carried.”  February 1st, 1915 “Brother Hall moved that PGD officially recognize the fraternity of Lambda Chi Alpha. Carried.”  “It was suggested that the brothers be quiet in library during study hours.”    February 9th, 1915 “Brother Eades moved that the house have another faculty smoker. Carried.”  March 8th, 1915 “Brother Eades as delegate to the inter-fraternity council bringing up the question of a sidewalk being built between here and Orono, and the idea of having a common initiation night on campus.”  “Brother Creighton moved that each brother pay 50 cents for the purpose of buying records for the victrola. Carried.”   March 16th, 1915 “Brother Creighton moved that a comm. of three be appointed to draw up bi-laws regarding the academic requirements of pledged brothers before being initiated. Carried.”  April 20th, 1915 “Brother Eddy read the report of the meeting of section I Phi Gams at Worcester.”  “Brother Hanson gave a commendable report of the work during the past year. He said that the house had a great lack of athletes, but socially the house had a very successful year. He pointed out that the house needed more men in the house next year than we had this year. He predicted a very successful coming year if the fellows only supported the new officers.” “Brother Hall reported that the house ought to support college functions better next year than they had this year.”  “Brother Fannon asked all the brothers to help him write letters to prospective men.”  May 16th, 1915 “Brother Hanson read a very interesting letter from Brother Ted Haskell, ’14, in which he told about the Cambridge alumni dinner.” May 24th, 1915 “Brother Hanson moved that the house pay $10 to help send the track team to the big intercollegiate meet. Carried.”  September 27th, 1915 “Brother Daggett was a visitor at the meeting. Brother Daggett suggested that PGD be ready to help Mr. Cranston, head of the Y.M.C.A., in any way that he might need help.”  October 4th, 1915 “Brother Eades moved that a fine of $.25 be placed on every man that is absent from the waiters crew and does not find a substitute. No excuses shall be accepted. Carried.”  October 13th, 1915 “Brother Simms moved that the initiation banquet would be held in the Bangor House. Carried.”  October 18th 1915 “Brother-profs. Lyon and Kaulfuss were present at the meeting.”   October 25th, 1915 “Brother Mullen moved that a comm. of five be appointed to begin plans for the big Christmas house party. Carried.” “Brother Sweet that a comm. of three be appointed to look into the matter of cementing the bathroom. Carried.” “Brother Mullen moved that a comm. of three be appointed to look into the matter of repairing the ceiling and floors of the first floor. Carried.”  “Brother Hunt read a letter from Mr. Cranston suggesting that Bible classes be held in the house.”  November 1st, 1915 “The Bible class issue was discussed, and it was the opinion of the house that we did not need them.”  “Brother Mullen moved that a comm. of three be appointed to arrange a speaker for one Sunday afternoon each month. Carried.”  “It was suggested that the Steward make a report during the next meeting on the cost of the new set of dishes.” “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)    Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge! |
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