Right in front of you stands a house that has seen more parties, plot twists, and pranks than your average Netflix series. The Iowa Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, built way back in 1916, looks a bit like an English manor with its Tudor Revival style-think Shakespeare meets college spirit. Architect Amos B. Emery, who must’ve had a flair for the dramatic, used ornamental timber and stucco to give this house its fairytale charm. Fun fact: it’s the only building Emery designed like this, and rumor has it he never quite got all the paint out of his hair afterwards.
Now, picture the 1920s-everyone dancing the Charleston, jazz drifting through those wood-paneled halls. In 1929, the brothers announced plans for a $50,000 home (which is over $900,000 today, so their fundraising must have been epic). By 1931, the place was ready for some serious fraternity life.
That original main hall, with its floor-to-ceiling paneling, was grand enough to impress any visitor. On the second floor, a balcony overlooked the lounge below, perfect for orchestras at lively dances. Who knew fraternity houses could be so classy?
But life in the house wasn’t always smooth: in 1943, a fire broke out and damaged the upper floors. Luckily, the building was repaired and reoccupied, but most of the brothers were off serving in World War II. The solution? Rent rooms to female students. For a brief time, the house was the scene of unprecedented co-ed camaraderie.
Over the years, the house grew and changed, expanding the kitchen in 1952 and adding more bedrooms in 2010. Today, standing at 228 Gray Avenue, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places-a testament to nearly a century of wild stories, resilience, and community. So, don’t be surprised if the house gives you a wink as you walk by-it’s survived almost everything but a tornado made of textbooks!
