Welcome to Illinois State FarmHouse
How Illinois State FarmHouse Began
On September 7, 1982, three young men decided to pursue the possibility of establishing a chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity at Illinois State University. After they were directed to the International Office by the University of Illinois Chapter, C.J. Gauger, the Director of Expansion, visited the interested students on September 22, 1982. At this meeting there were seven undergraduates and five area alumni. The Director of Expansion gave an orientation report about FarmHouse and the procedure for establishing a chapter.
During the next month, the Interest Group informally rushed new members, elected ad hoc officers, and prepared a constitution. After accomplishing these goals, they were officially recognized as a FarmHouse Expansion Club by the FarmHouse International Office on October 14, 1982. Al Culver, IL '43 and Darrell Godfrey, IA '73, were the area alumni who played the major roles in establishing FarmHouse at Illinois State.
For approximately the next two months, the Club concerned themselves mainly with raising funds and picking up new members. On December 1, 1982, they ratified the final copy of the constitution and administered their first pledge test. It was at this meeting that it was decided to look for housing for the fall of 1983.
On January 23, 1983, the club members attended a formal pledging ceremony at the University of Illinois FarmHouse chapter. This was a major step for the Club members, giving the men a quick and meaningful look at fraternity life.
During the spring semester of 1983, the Club's main objective was to find housing. After a lengthy search, facilities were rented at 104 West Cherry. Also during this semester, the Club held two rush parties, participated in community activities, and held its first Founders Day Formal.
Over the summer, all members attended two house improvement weekends. Also during the summer, the Club sent four members and an alumni advisor to a leadership seminar held at Branson, Missouri conducted by the International Fraternity. On August 22, 1983, twenty members moved in the house on West Cherry. Twenty-six men were initiated as charter members on December 17, 1983. The Chapter lived at 909 South Franklin until the spring of 1990.
In the summer of 1990, the chapter moved to another rental house on 302 West Vernon. This house was owned by the Beta Sigma Psi Fraternity. In the very unfortunate passing of Dr. Al Culver in the Spring of 1991, the chapter was left a substantial bequest. The current executive board decided that it was time to pursue the purchase of their own permanent living facilities. The Alumni Association purchased an eighteen bedroom house at 805 South Franklin Avenue and the chapter moved into the facility in January of 1992.
.jpg)