Paragon
June 2023
This
Upcoming Events
Friday, July 7 - Dinner at Mama Santa's
Saturday, July 8 - Work Weekend Day #1 and Cookout
Sunday, July 9 - Work Weekend Day #2
Saturday, October 14 - Homecoming Event at the House
A Message from the Alumni Board President
Brothers,
Phi Kappa Theta's 64th Biennial Convention is in Lexington, Kentucky Friday, August 4 to Sunday, August 6. As an alumni chapter in good standing, the Ohio Alpha Beta Alumni Association can send a voting delegate to the convention. Unfortunately, none of our current board members are able to attend that weekend. Are you an alumnus brother who is interested in getting more involved? If so, please reach out to Nathan Kossover at secretary@ohioalphabeta.org. The Alumni Association will cover the convention registration costs, but you will need to cover your travel and hotel costs.
Last month, we received a notice from Phi Kappa Theta’s national office regarding changes to the fraternity’s general liability insurance program. While this insurance was previously funded solely by a per capita charge on the active brothers, they will now be asking alumni associations to contribute to funding this, and especially those alumni associations who own chapter houses as we do. Thus, starting with the next fiscal year we will be budgeting the necessary funds to cover our share of the insurance. This will provide us with $1 million in general liability insurance, and official recognition by the national fraternity as an alumni chapter. Since much of our funding ultimately comes from you, I wanted to make you all aware of this development.
I also hope to see you at our upcoming work weekend July 8-9, which you can read about below. As anyone who owns a home knows, there are always repairs and improvements to be made. Your time, talent, and/or treasure are absolutely necessary and greatly appreciated to make sure the Phi Kappa Theta house is a safe place for our brothers for years to come.
Yours in the Bonds,
Nicholas DeCenzo
President, Ohio Alpha Beta Alumni Association
In the last newsletter, we found out that our house is over 108 years old. And as a century home, it should not come as a surprise to anyone that the building is in constant need of some TLC. To that end, our next Work Weekend will be the weekend after Independence Day: Saturday, July 8th and Sunday, July 9th, 2023. We will start at 8 am both days with a light breakfast and coffee. The project list is subject to change depending on available expertise and the number of volunteers, but the House Improvements Committee is planning the following for the July Work Weekend:
- Painting (areas TBD)
- Cleaning (everywhere!)
- Water heater replacement (for apartment above garage)
- Replacement baluster installation
- Carpet cleaning (Red Room)
- Front patio wood trim repair
- Parlor ceiling leak repair
- Kitchen mop sink drain repair
- Landscaping (weather permitting)
- ...and other projects TBD
If you're interested in joining us, please RSVP here ! Whether you can join us for the whole weekend, just one day, or just to stop and say 'hi', we'd love to see you! Please feel free to reach out to Patrick Glynn, with any questions you may have.
Of course, we're not all work and no play! On Friday, July 7, the Social Committee has planned to kick off the Work Weekend with a dinner at Mama Santa's in Little Italy at 7pm. Everyone will pay their own way for this meal, but we ask that you RSVP no later than Wednesday, July 5 so we can provide the venue with an accurate headcount.
On Saturday, July 8, we'll also have a cookout at the house starting at 6pm. Please RSVP for this event separately, so that we can have the appropriate amount of food available. If you have any questions about either the Friday or Saturday dinners, please contact Davey Rowan (rowan@ohioalphabeta.org).
See you in July!
The Social Committee has several things in the works for Homecoming 2023, but we really need your feedback and help. If you haven't already filled out the 2-question survey, please do so now! You won't want to miss this event on Saturday, October 14, 2023!
The Ohio Alpha Beta Alumni Association has learned of the passing of two members of our brotherhood.
- On March 8, Robert Muzyn passed away. Brother Murzyn was initiated in 1960. His full obituary can be found here.
- On May 13, Francis E. Ilcin passed away. Brother Ilcin was initiated in 1961. His full obituary can be found on Cleveland.com.
The Ohio Alpha Beta Alumni Association extends its condolences to the family, friends and fraternity brothers of Brother Murzyn and Brother Ilcin.
In our last issue, we learned that our house was most likely built in 1915 by Harry New. Brother Bill Danso ‘05 took us through the title history of 11016 Magnolia from its beginnings as part of the Wade estate through the death of Harry New in 1921. In this issue, Brother Danso takes us through the history of the house from New’s death to the time that Phi Kappa fraternity acquired the house on January 13, 1955.
After Harry New’s death, his widow Minne inherited the house. She and her family continued to reside there. Based on her son’s World War II draft card, it appears that Minnie’s daughter-in-law lived there for at least a period of time as well. However, during Minnie’s ownership of the house, the residents of the neighborhood banded together to add additional deed restrictions to all properties in the neighborhood, including one that was particularly troubling and discriminatory. Specifically, in 1927, a racially restrictive covenant was recorded and placed on all properties in the neighborhood, including 11016 Magnolia. It does not seem to be worth repeating the abhorrent language of the restriction, but suffice it to say that the neighborhood wanted to restrict itself to “the Caucasian race” until November 1, 1946. As an interesting anecdote, another restriction was recorded the same year stating that until January 1, 1936, no property could be used for “a fraternity house, rooming or boarding house.”
Minnie New sold the house to Orald S. and Frieda Stewart on May 14, 1945. According to the 1940 census, Orald Stewart was the President of a steel shot company. However, there does not appear to be much additional information immediately available about him or his wife. He and his wife only lived at the house for a few years, and sold it to Olga Vantaggi on December 23, 1948. Olga was married to Fred Vantaggi, and according to census records, he was a waiter at the Hollenden Hotel. At the time, this was considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Cleveland. Olga, according to a Summit County marriage license, was formerly Olga Montagner. On November 10, 1949, she transferred 11016 Magnolia to Anthony and Adella Montagner, which based on the 1930 census record, appears to have been her brother and sister-in-law. On June 13, 1950, Anthony and Adella transferred the property back to Olga. On January 13, 1955, Olga transferred 11016 Magnolia Drive to Phi Kappa Fraternity. Along with the property, it seems that Phi Kappa inherited a tenant by the name of C.J. Smith, a salesman for the U.S. Rubber Company, as referenced in the previous issue.
This brings us full circle back to the beginning of our history with 11016 Magnolia Drive, but it’s not quite the end of the story. After Phi Kappa Fraternity initially purchased the house, the deed trail shows some of our fraternity’s history.
On March 20, 1958, the deed was transferred to the Phi Kappa Real Estate Holding Company, a Cincinnati, Ohio not-for-profit corporation at 1026 Delta Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. Leland’s Annual: The 1962 Fraternity and Sorority Directory lists this address as the national office of Phi Kappa Theta, and some other 1960’s era letterhead that can be found online also lists this address for the Executive Vice President. Presumably, the national office wanted or needed to consolidate property ownership. After the merger of Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa on April 29, 1959, a Certificate of Amendment was recorded on July 10, 1961 to clarify that the organization’s name had changed, and the house would now be owned by PKT National Properties, Inc.
In other words, the National Fraternity officially owned our house starting in 1958. However, our chapter was able to return the house to local control when the Cleveland Phi Kappa Theta Alumni Corp. took title back to the property on January 19, 1972. It seems very likely that this purchase was facilitated by the mortgage referenced in the alumni newsletter from 1972 featured in our April issue as “evening the score with PKT Properties.”
Finally, on August 20, 2007, the Cleveland Phi Kappa Theta Alumni Corp. transferred title to the Ohio Alpha Beta Housing Corporation, where the title remains today.
To recap Brother Danso’s excellent work, 11016 Magnolia has been owned by the following people and groups since it was built in 1915.
- Harry New
- Minnie New
- Orald S. and Frieda Stewart
- Olga Vantaggi (twice)
- Anthony and Adella Montagner
- Phi Kappa Fraternity
- Phi Kappa Real Estate Holding Company / PKT National Properties, Inc.
- Cleveland Phi Kappa Theta Alumni Corp / Ohio Alpha Beta Housing Corporation
It is our firm intent that this list will grow no longer. As the alumni newsletter said in 1972, "We like this chapter house and expect to remain indefinitely."
The Ohio Alpha Beta Alumni Association exists to connect the over 800 alumni of the Phi Kappa Theta Ohio Alpha Beta chapter at Case Western Reserve University through events, newsletters, and other gatherings.
Our subsidiary organization, the Ohio Alpha Beta Housing Corporation, exists to own, maintain, and improve the Ohio Alpha Beta Chapter House located at 11016 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland, OH, 44106.
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11016 Magnolia Dr
Cleveland, OH 44106
United States