Draft:Middletown Chapter, Alpha Delta Phi Society

The Middletown Chapter of the Alpha Delta Phi Society (ADPS) is a Greek letter co-educational literary society located on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. The Middletown Chapter was founded in 1856 from the combination of two rival societies on Wesleyan’s campus. The current chapter house, built between 1904 and 1906, sits at 185 High Street in Middletown, at the corner of Wesleyan's college row.

Early History and Founding
The institution we now know as Middletown Chapter originated in 1856, beginning its history by merging two rival organizations. The Betrian Society of Wesleyan University was organized in 1847 from an older association, Alpha Psi. The Lebanian Society began in 1854 with four members, adding many more members to its roll during its first year. A fierce rivalry existed between these two groups, almost since the latter's formation. In 1855, both literary societies patronized the Chronometer Eating Club. A gastronomic fellowship thus ensued, somewhat neutralizing the hostility.

The annual Convention of Alpha Delta Phi in 1856 was held in New Haven, and both the Betrians and the Lebanians presented petitions for charters. Until the fact was disclosed at the Convention, neither society knew that the other was considering a petition to Alpha Delta Phi. Since the Convention delegates determine the bestowing of charters, a vote was taken to determine to whom initiation privileges should be extended. Each group's supporters in the Fraternity split the Convention and no decision was reached.

It soon became evident that since neither party was powerful enough to defeat the other, neither could succeed by itself. Debate ensued until someone proposed that, since a charter could not be given to either one of the groups, the two societies should unite and accept the charter together. This motion was passed. On July 31, 1856, the Middletown Chapter became the eighteenth chapter of Alpha Delta Phi, as the Betrians and Lebanians were initiated into the fraternity at the McDonough House, a hotel at Main and Court Streets, site of the present day Liberty Bank.

For the next 28 years, the chapter rented rooms for meeting and eating. The location of the meeting room is unknown, probably kept secret to guard against the trickery then common among rival societies.

After the society stabilized and had a house, membership steadily grew—barring drops due to enlistment during the first and second World Wars.

Co-Education
Slowly but surely, the changing moods on campus in the '60s took their toll on the chapter. By the early '70s, membership had fallen, and the house was in disrepair.

Still, the chapter needed a major change to revitalize its shrinking membership and morale. One morning in 1972, a group of female students knocked on Alpha Delt's front door, asking if there were any rooms for rent. The housing had always been reserved for men, but since the rooms were otherwise going to remain empty, the chapter was more than willing to collect rent money from whomever it could. These women soon became integrated into all aspects of life at Alpha Delt except those restricted to members. After about six months the brothers took the next logical step and the women were invited to pledge. Tracy Winn, one of the first female members, said, “...I don't know what transpired behind the scenes. I don't know if they were planning to go co-ed for a while, or whether we got the ball rolling. Either way, I guess that was the beginning of a major change.” In 1973, Middletown Alpha Delta Phi initiated its first co-educational pledge class, and the chapter experienced a surge of growth and energy still evident today.

Middletown then became embroiled in the broader debate around coeducation that ended in 1993 with the separation of the male-only Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity and the co-ed Alpha Delta Phi Society.

House
The house at 185 High Street is one of the defining features of the Middletown Chapter. Efforts to acquire a chapter house began in 1876. The first proposed new home for the society was "a very fine old stone mansion" on High Street. Money was raised, but unexpected problems arose and plans to acquire this building were abandoned. The house was later purchased by the same group who owns it today — the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.

After this disappointment, more fundraising was done and in 1880 property on Wyllys Avenue was purchased. Three years later, however, this lot was also deemed unsuitable and was resold. It later became home to the Skull and Serpent Society. At this time, Alpha Delt procured the land on which the current house sits.

At that time, Cross Street ran in front of the house and continued up past Judd Hall. A housing report from the turn of the century describes the location for the new Alpha Delta Phi house: “Plans were promptly drawn up and in the fall the building was begun on the lot at the Corner of High and Cross Streets. The location could scarcely be bettered. It is both prominent and secluded, both beautiful and convenient.”

The central room was dedicated on May 29, 1884, during the 52nd Convention of the Fraternity, which was held in Middletown. According to the Wesleyan Argus, the first commencement banquet in the new house took place on July 1, 1884, although no one lived in the house until the following year. The cost of construction of this house was $25,000.

Unfortunately, the original house was rather poorly constructed. Therefore, it was torn down to make room for a new house, which was built between 1904 and 1906. The new house was home to 21 students. It is the main section of the house that still stands today.

In 1929, Cross Street was closed between High Street and Vine Street, and Church Street was extended to its present length.

Notable Alumni

 * John Perry Barlow (Wesleyan University, 1969) – poet, essayist, lyricist for the Grateful Dead, co-founder of Electronic Frontier Foundation
 * Abram W. Harris (Wesleyan University, 1880) – president of Northwestern University and University of Maine
 * Pagan Kennedy (Wesleyan University, 1984) – author, pioneer of 1990s zine movement
 * George V. N. Lothrop (Brown University, 1838) – Michigan Attorney General
 * Monica Louwerens (Wesleyan University, 1995) – actress and Miss America contestant
 * Robert Ludlum (Wesleyan University, 1951) – novelist
 * Michael S. Roth (Wesleyan University, 1978) – president of Wesleyan University
 * George Washington Shonk (Wesleyan University, 1873) – U.S. House of Representatives
 * Herbert B. Shonk (Wesleyan University, 1873) – New York State Assembly, attorney
 * Watson G. Squire (Wesleyan University, 1859) – U.S. Senator, Ohio Attorney General
 * Charles Wardell Stiles (Wesleyan University, 1886) – zoologist, parasitologist with U.S. Department of Agriculture