January 2021
Renovations to the original (front) section of the house are now completed!
Alumni who may have been lucky enough to score limited tickets to any of UGA’s home games last fall, may have dropped by the house and seen the place under construction. We had several alumni contact us and ask, “What is going on?”
We had numerous starts and stops, partially due to the closing down of city-county government during the pandemic. Our contractors and sub-contractors had a difficult time pulling construction work permits. Also, work slowed as we opened walls and found that wiring and plumbing were antiquated, not up to code, and had to be replaced. As typical of any old house renovation, there were many surprises along the way.
A new HVAC system was installed, and you may image, there was some degree of difficulty in mounting two set of stairs and into the attic of the house. The old system was more than 40 years old.
It should surprise no one that there was no insulation in the house. The new insulation in the attic is the first installment of insulation!
The original floors were white oak and walnut. We removed the carpet in the living room and vinyl tile in the front foyer to find beautiful original wood floors through the house—white oak and walnut. The grand staircase was refurbished. All of the bathrooms were gutted and remodeled. The most stunning change was the “re-opening” of room, now known as the Parlor Room. The center staircase was removed, as well as the president’s suite and bathroom, creating one large room in the center of the house, linking the living room and the staircase to the band room. It is spectacular, to say the least.
We plan to have a “Grand Re-Opening” of the house in Spring 2021 when a vaccine has been distributed and we can, once again, socialize in public. Stay tuned!
Fall 2020
The Boys are Back in Town! Thirty-nine Delta Beta undergraduates returned to the Classic City in August to begin a new semester as the chapter re-opened after a one-year suspension by the University. On October 1st, ten new members were initiated and the chapter now has 49 members. They are laying plans for a large Spring 2021 pledge class. They’ve returned to the university in the middle of the pandemic. Live rush, social events, and pre-game tailgates are prohibited. So, as much as we’d like to see alumni back at the house, we can’t host large gatherings. However, if you’re in town and would like to see the remodeling work, currently being completed with a finish date prior to Thanksgiving, please feel free to drop in…and wear a mask!
January 1, 2020— October 1, 2020 Chapter House Renovations
The Delta Beta Alumni of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. (House Corporation) began renovations to the our historic chapter house at 645 S. Milledge Avenue in January. The house was constructed in 1905 and has served Delta Beta for the last sixty years and house more than 1,000 initiated brothers. The following photos show renovations work being done to the interior and exterior of the house under PHASE I of the multi-phased project.
TOP ROW L-to-R: 1. The Athens-Clarke County Historic Commission allowed us to re-open the Grand Stairwell in the front foyer of the house. The stair rail will be refurbished to its original appearance and new flooring will be installed throughout the main floor of the original house. 2-4. The bedroom on the front side of the house have been opened up for two-and-three man rooms by removing temporary walls and restoring the upstairs rooms to their original size.
BOTTOM ROW L-to-R: 1-2 The platforms supporting the front columns on the house have been rebuilt to stabilize the front porch and support. 3. Thirty year old siding will be removed and the original wood siding will be painted or replaced with hardy plank siding. 4. Wood rot on the denture mold, fascia boards and soffits are being replaced.
