Lambda chapter house
HISTORY
Alumnae members first met in 1904 to form a House Corporation in anticipation of building a chapter house. In 1917, the Lambda chapter house was built on Lot 1, Block 1, St. Anthony Falls - a lot purchased from William Walls Falwell, the first president of the University - the cornerstone of the community and the first sorority house on campus.
THE ANCHOR
The anchor located at the front of the Lambda chapter house comes from a Navy battleship, the USS Wagner. The ship was named from American Seaman 2nd Class William Daniel Wagner - born May 16, 1924 in Cincinnati, Ohio - who enlisted in the Naval Reserve on February 7, 1942. Wagner was attached to SS Steel Navigator's armed guard crew and was killed in action when his ship was torpedoed by a V-610 on October 19, 1942.
The Wagner was laid down on November 8, 1943, at Boston, Massachusetts, by the Boston Navy Yard; launched on December 27, 1944; and sponsored by Mrs. Alfred Thomas. Due to adjustments of wartime priorities and postwar cutbacks, construction was suspended on February 17, 1947 when it was 61.5% complete. The ship lay "mothballed" for the next seven years, until July 1, 1954. Chosen for completion as a radar picket escort ship, construction on Wagner was resumed. Redesignated DER-539, Wagner was commissioned on November 22, 1955, Lieutenant Commander Edward A. Riley was in command.
She departed Boston on January 4, 1956 for the Caribbean. Returning north, Wagner joined Escort Squadron 18 and operated out of Newport, Rhode Island. The ship conducted radar picket duty on the seaborne extension of the Distant Early Warning (D.E.W.) line into late 1959.
Wagner was placed "in commission, in reserve" in 1960 and decommissioned in June 1960. She was struck from the Navy list on November 1, 1974. The 3,000 pound anchor was secured from storage in Williamsburg, Virginia, by Henry Vadnais, Head Curator for the Department of Navy.
The anchor is dedicated to Barbara Griswold Laederach (Lambda-Minnesota) who served on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Delta Gamma alumnae board, adviser, house corporation trustee, Province Chairman, Fraternity Council member: vice president membership, and National Panhellenic Council Delegate, Panhellenic Area Adviser, Chairman of College Panhellenic Committee. The Anchor Dedication Ceremony occurred on October 3, 1983, and a flag presentation was performed by the Naval ROTC Color Guard.
Each year, Lambda's president wrote a letter to the Navy with an update of the chapter's year and the status of the anchor. This letter, along with the payment of $1 per year, was required for Lambda to keep the anchor.
CHAPTER RENOVATIONS
The Lambda-University of Minnesota chapter house has seen significant renovation during the past five years thanks to our talented and hardworking house corporation board.
The first floor, chapter room, and front exterior have undergone big changes. The house is beautiful and functions efficiently for our 34 live-in members, and the rest of the chapter that totals around 140 members. Big Blue is well-used and well-loved! But there is always more to do!
GET INVOLVED
We are always recruiting new house corporation board members to join our team to maintain our safe and gracious home and plan for our next round of renovations. In particular, we are seeking alumnae with interest and/or experience in:
- Leadership and management.
- Home maintenance.
- Interior design.
- Finance and budgeting.
- Human resources.
Board membership is open to Delta Gamma alumnae from any chapter of initiation. It’s a great way to get involved and connect with other DGs! Responsibilities include:
- 6-8 board meetings a year.
- Assuming a working role to suit your interests such as: oversee building repairs and maintenance, treasurer, summer project management, employment committee, or future renovations planning.
If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this form so someone from the board can contact you and we’ll set up a conversation.
