Fire Damages 'Deke' Chapel On E. William

Fire Damages ‘Deke’ Chapel On E.William

Fire of a yet undetermined origin this morning struck at the 70-year-old Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity chapel at 609 E. William St.

Smoke was discovered pouring from the windows and roof of the building shortly after 11 o’clock this morning, and the fire department was called.

After more than an hour’s work with high pressure fog apparatus, the blaze, which appeared to be centered on the second floor and attic of the building, was brought under control.

A crowd of approximately 500 University students and townspeople watched the progress of the work on the blaze. Several holes had to be cut in the roof and windows broken in order to obtain admittance for hoses.

Built In 1878

John Hubbard, president of the local DKE chapter, located at 1912 Geddes Ave., could give no estimate of the damage done to the building or its furnishings.

It was built in 1878 with the contributions of alumni and chapter members who graduated that year. Since then, it has been used for chapter meetings two or three times monthly.

Most of the furnishings of the building, according to Hubbard, are chiefly of "sentimental” value. Fraternity records, dating back to 1855, were in a safe and are undamaged, he believes.

The building was broken into two weeks ago, and the chapter was in the process of installing a burglar alarm system, but the power for it had not been turned on, he said.

For the chapter meetings, gas light or candle light was used, since the structure had no other electricity.

The last chapter meeting was held there Saturday night, Hubbard said.