Friday, May 1, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 7
Legends live on at Sigma Nu
By Graham K. Johnson gjohnson @kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The Sigma Nu fraternity at 1501 Sigma Nu Place, is the former home of former governor Walter "Roscoe" Stubbs. Legs has it that the house is haunted by a former servant who was found hanged in the third floor ballroom. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
All buildings cast shadows, but few cast historical shadows as long, prestigious and mysterious as the Sigma Nu fraternity house.
"There's so much history here," said Charles Henderson, Overland Park junior and president of Sigma Nu. "It's been through thick and thin."
The house, at 1501 Sigma Nu Place, is imposing in size, but its legacy may be even larger. It has been home to governors, astronauts and possibly even ghosts. It has been a source of legendary myths and land for fraternities. Mostly, it has been a place of tradition in Lawrence.
The house was built in 1907 by Walter "Roscoe" Stubbs, who served as Governor of Kansas from 1908-1912. Stubbs ran a successful cattle business from the house and was noted as a progressive governor for applying his business sense to government.
Steve Jansen, director of the Douglas County Historical Museum, said the house was known as Wind Hill Estate and was surrounded by more than 20 acres of undeveloped land.
"In terms of that suburban northwest area of Lawrence, it's as old as it gets." Jansen said.
Almost as old as the house is its haunted legend.
Legend holds that in 1911 a house servant who was allegedly the governor's mistress was hanged in the third floor ballroom. No one knows if the hanging was a suicide or a murder. Also rumored, but unconfirmed, is that the ashes of a woman, Virginia, are buried behind the main fireplace, a fireplace which bears a plaque with
place which bears a plaque with the enigmatic phrase: "The world
the enigmatic phrase: "The world of strife shut out, the world of love
shut in."
The plaque has been there since the fraternity bought the house and no one knows for sure what it means, Henderson said.
Henderson said there had been a long history of sightings and other events that have led some members to believe in the legend of Virginia's ghost.
"Some people in the house believe she really is here," Henderson said.
Ryan Stein, Smithville, Mo., junior, had an experience last summer that opened his eyes. He heard several doors slam shut, only to find there was no one in the house.
"I think it could be true," Stein said. "Probably 90 percent of it is hype, but then there is that other 10 percent of it in the back of your mind when you're the only one in the house."
Willard Chi, an KU graduate and former Sigma Nu resident, said he was skeptical but he appreciated the tradition of the legend.
"I personally don't believe in
ghosts, but I think it's healthy to have legends," Chi said. "It brings out a sense of camaraderie and shared culture."
That shared culture has been building since the Nu chapter of Sigma Nu bought the house and 22 surrounding acres from the governor in 1922.
The fraternity sold much of the land to fellow fraternities and sororites to build their houses in the area.
"They came to us to ask for land," Henderson said. "It helps us remember our history in that a lot of properties around here used to be owned by Sigma Nu."
But perhaps the house's greatest legacy is the quality of some of the people who have lived here. It has been home to an astronaut Ray Evans of Apollo 17 fame, and William Inge, the Pulitzer prize-winning playwright. And, of course, Governor Stubbs.
"I think it's a neat thing to be able to say that I live in the old governor's mansion," Henderson said.
THE LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
MIAMI CITY BALLET
MIAMI CITY BALLET
Thursday, Sept. 24, 1988, 8:00 p.m.*
ST. PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC
Wednesday, 04-14, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
MINGUS BIG BAND with Kevin Mahogany
New York City Opera National Company in Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY
saturday, february 27 & Sunday, february 28, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
ITZHAK PERLMAN, VIOLIN
Saturday, April 10, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
FLECK/MARSHALL/MEYER
ANONYMOUS 4
Bela Fleck, banjo; Mike Marshall, mandolin; Edgar Meyer, double bass
Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
ANONYMOUS 4
Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
TRIÁNGULO Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet; Gustavo Tavares, cello; Pablo Zinger, piano
Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
CONCERT SERIES
BRENTANO STRING QUARTET Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
ORION STRING QUARTET with Ida Kavrafien, viola
Sunday, April 18, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
YOU COME FIRST! Season and Single Tickets are On Sale Now to Students
CULTURE CLASH
Friday, Oct. 2, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
CULTURE CLASH
Jones/Zane Dance Company WE SET OUT EARLY...VISIBILITY WAS POOR
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 8:00 p.m.
BALLET HISPANICO
Saturday, Nov. 14, 1988 8:00 p.m.
BALLET HISPANICO
Robert Wilson & Philip Glass MONSTERS OF GRACE
The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company TIME AFTER with Olympia Dukakis
Wednesday, April 7, 1999 8:00 p.m.
STOMP
BROADWAY
AND BEYONI
Friday, Oct. 23, 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 5:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, 3:00 p.m.
BRIGADOON
Friday, April 30, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23, 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 5:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, 3:00 p.m.
PATSYI
Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
THE KING AND I
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, 2:00 p.m.
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
Tuesday, Mar. 16, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
BRIGADOON
**AMMUNDAN CHAMBER THEATER ENSEMBLE**
AnimOlion: Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, 7:00 p.m. (ages 14 and up),
Tell Tales: Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998, 2:00 p.m. (all ages)
**A CHRISTMAS CAROL**
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, 7:30 p.m.
The St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet in ROMEO AND JULIET
Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, 2:00 p.m. 6:70 p.m.
Theôtre Sans Fil in DREAM CATCHERS
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999, 2:00 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT Viana da Mota International Music Foundation TAO CHANG, PIANO Sunday, Sept. 20, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
For tickets or more information please call The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Box Office at (785) 864-ARTS. Hours: Weekdays 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Season tickets on sale now to general public.
Single tickets on sale to the general public beginning June 15, 1998.
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