THE EARLY DAYS
In 1905, there were three fraternities on the Middlebury College campus:
Chi Psi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, and Delta Upsilon. Each was founded before
the Civil War. There had been no new fraternities formed on the campus
until a large neutral group called the Commons Club was formed. From
this organization, the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Delta Rho was founded.
George E. Kimball, President of the Commons Club, and two other Common Club members, Irving T. Coates and John Beecher, met in Room 14 of Old Painter Hall to discuss making a more closely knit group and fraternity. The Commons Club was large and not very congenial for intimate friendships at that time. These three men then approached seven other members of the Commons Club who were equally enthusiastic. On May 17, 1905 the ten men met as the charter members of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity in Room 14 of Old Painter Hall.