Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ)

  1. 1938 -1940: 407 N. 23rd Street
  2. 1940 - deactivation due to WWII: 933 N. 27th Street (reactivated 1947)
  3. Jan 1948 - Feb 1952: 2215 Gordon Street (former Phi Epsilon/Theta Kappa Nu House)
  4. Feb 1952 -1958: 325 N. 23rd Street (Hoffman House and former residence of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Swain) 
  5. 1958 - 1965: 2224 Liberty Street (former PKT House)
  6. 1965 - 2017: 2316 Chew Street (most recent residence of SigEp)

The Pennsylvania Iota Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) was charted at Muhlenberg College April 10, 1938. This chapter grew from the old “Druid Club” which was a local frat organized in 1925. In 1928 the club became the Delta Beta chapter of the Theta Upsilon Omega fraternity until 1938 when the national organization merged with Sigma Phi Epsilon. 

In 1938, the new SigEp chapter at Muhlenberg moved into the former Theta Upsilon Omega house at 407 N. 23rd Street after the organizations merged. SigEp moved into its own new house at 933 N. 27 Street in 1940, and lived there until the chapter was deactivated due to World War II. The organization was reactivated in 1947, and gained enough members throughout the next year to be able to move into the former Theta Kappa Nu house at 2215 Gordon Street in January 1948. While on Gordon Street, SigEp brothers undertook a “remodeling of the cellar to a game room. Besides this, the sun porch and living rooms were redecorated, and in general an atmosphere was created that was home-like and pleasant.”

In February 1952, SigEp moved into the former residence of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Swain at 325 N. 23 Street (known today as the Hoffman House). While residing here, the SigEp house was referred to as the “House with the Red Door” and was known for its outstanding social events.

SigEp resided in the Hoffman House for several years before purchasing the former Phi Kappa Tau House at 2224 Liberty Street, as PKT’s new campus residence had just been completed. This Liberty Street house was the last residence SigEp inhabited before the construction of its own on-campus house in 1965 at 2316 Chew Street. According to the 1965 Ciarla, the new SigEp house “boast[ed] such accommodations as a sound-proof dormitory section, a spacious living and partying room, a well equipped kitchen, and an imaginative cook who dream[t] of one day preparing candied iguana tail.”

SigEp maintained permanent residence in this Chew Street house from 1965 through 2017 when hazing allegations caused the Chapter’s charter to be revoked.