Lafayette’s ‘Old Grey Barn’ Undergoes Major Renovations

The Phi Kappa Psi house, Lafayette’s erstwhile “Old Grey Barn” that the 137-year-old fraternity calls home, is getting a major facelift thanks to the generosity and vision of its members and alumni.

With the house in need of significant repairs, the fraternity has conducted an aggressive fundraising operation aimed at generating $1.5 million. The money will be used for a variety of purposes at the house:

• Installing fire sprinkler system and upgrading fire alarm system.
• Stabilizing the central staircase.
• Upgrading plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, as well as replacing windows and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Building a state-of-the-art educational space, including a library and computer lab.
• Renovating the kitchen and food service equipment for an enhanced meal program.
• Revitalizing bedrooms to be comfortably competitive with dormitories and off-campus housing.
• Providing comfortable social areas allowing members to grow beyond academic pursuits.
• Replacing front porches to restore the charm of the original design of the chapter house.
• Creating areas within the house dedicated to individual and group academic activities.

The project has Phi Psi members and the college administration excited.

“A lot of the friends that I still keep in contact with from college were people I either met in the house or through the house,” says Chris Therkorn ’01, who is serving as House Corporation treasurer for the project. “What shaped me during my time at Lafayette was my experience through the house.”

As of mid-December the fraternity was a little more than halfway to its fundraising goal. Phi Psi brothers believe the organization’s rich history will help bring the project to fruition.

The Pennsylvania Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi was founded at Lafayette March 15, 1869. In 1903, two alumni purchased a tract of land off Sullivan Lane in which the fraternity house would eventually occupy. It is believed, though not officially confirmed, that President Woodrow Wilson, a Phi Psi brother from Princeton, visited the Old Grey Barn while in office.

In 1969, the house was moved to the March Field site, a project that was completed in 1971. Unfortunately, the house fell prey to years of wear and tear, thus launching the renovation project.

While the Lafayette administration supports the Phi Psi project, the new work is being financed completely by donations.

“Personally I’m very excited to see this project get under way,” says Terry Weber, assistant director of residence life and adviser to fraternities and sororities. “From an alumni standpoint, I think Phi Psi has done a great job in getting all their alumni from years ago interested in the project and interested in the chapter. Without their support, this project wouldn’t be successful.”

For its part, the college has contributed to the project by helping house Phi Psi members while the renovations are completed. Members are staying at Rubin Hall.

In addition to the construction work, Phi Psi also believes the renovations will have positive ramifications throughout Lafayette.

Phi Psi hopes the project fosters loyalty to the college and the fraternity. They also plan on sponsoring community events at the house and involving faculty, alumni and administrators through a speakers’ series.

The fraternity also hopes to generate support from parents and the college community and raise awareness of academic achievement. They also want to continue to engage alumni through mentoring, networking and professional development, while pushing members to strive toward the Phi Psi ideal.

The work is expected to be completed by the spring. Therkorn and the other alumni involved have been working practically full time to make sure everything is done correctly.

“It’s been very satisfying to see it coming together,” Therkorn says. “Difficult – but very satisfying.”