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Sigma Alpha Mu - Illinois HistoryMay 25, 1918, Sigma Alpha Mu was established at the University of Illinois. The original members lived together in a Chapter house on campus. In June 1926, Sammy’s starting selling $100-denomination bonds to finance the purchase and construction of the “Octagon” house located at 1008 S. Fifth Street. Sammy’s moved into the Octagon house in the late 1920s.
On April 13, 1948, a fire burned the Octagon house to the ground. From that day until 1952, the Sammies lived in many different places. Just to name a few there was the University Ice Rink, 1104 W. Illinois, 511 E. Daniel, 810 S. New Street, 906 S. Sixth and 509 E. Daniel. In 1952, the Chapter relocated to 805 Pennsylvania Avenue in Urbana, which was acquired through a trade for the property that the Octagon house occupied.
On August 1, 1959, Sammy’s sold the house located at 805 Pennsylvania to the University of Illinois Foundation for $85,000.
On August 14, 1959, Sigma Alpha Mu purchased the house located 301 E. Armory from George and Hattimay Leonard for $184,500. The chapter continued to grow and expand so much that in the early 1960s a number of members were living in a house next door located at 305 E. Armory.
In August 1965, the Chapter purchased the house next door from Robert and Joan Johnston for $62,500. When the cost of maintenance became too much for the Chapter to bear, the house was demolished 1969. The house’s parking lot now sits on this site.
Rho's roots
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