The class of 1956, celebrating its 50^th anniversary, and many other returning alumni visited the chapter house over Big Bash weekend.  Brothers Dave Cameron, Gerry Schneider, Bob Schwab, Larry Slagle, Dick Sylvester and their spouses and guests dropped by to see how the renovations were going.

The chapter house also humbly welcomed Doug Coplen ’81, Tim Cobb ’91, Trent Newcomb ’96, John Fields ’96, Jack Mansfield ’01, Larry Landis ’67, Joe Klen ’97, Roger Busch ’96 and presumably others who may have dropped in over the weekend while yours truly roamed the grounds.

While the view from the street is somewhat foreboding—mounds of dirt, partial construction on the façade of the house and east side, boards over the front windows—these brothers and their guests ventured in to find a house that has been almost completely stripped by construction activity.

Yet we did find plenty of memories just by thinking back—of that first Ristine house—of kitchen crew—of Leona the cook—of the open windows in the cold dormitory—of pushing one another to gain speed so to excel in varsity sports—of social gatherings—of Beta Mu—of wiffle ball in the front yard—of the time capsule placed in 1998 at the 50^th anniversary of the refounding that has been unearthed—of great days and great friendship.

We all realized the exciting potential of the renovated house, both for the chapter and the College.  We are building the chapter house of the future, that will enable these memories for the next forty or fifty years.  Even though the walls and floors were stripped down to the concrete, all the furniture, pictures and artifacts were packed and moved, and there was no place to even sit down, it was a very nice visit indeed. -Terry Hamilton '89