A large rock pile sits adjacent to the brick pathway outside Hanes Art Center. Though students and Chapel Hill residents pass by daily, it rarely draws a second glance. Yet this pile points to a much older campus landscape: the location of the original Fraternity Row, a cluster of early chapter houses and related student spaces once positioned near the campus core.

Constructed in the early twentieth century, Fraternity Row had a relatively short life on campus. In 1919, a major fire destroyed three houses and threatened nearby University buildings, including the library, prompting the fraternities to relocate and establish the Big and Little Fraternity Courts, which remain in use today.¹

Fraternity life has an extensive history at the University, predating the original Fraternity Row, and even the American Civil War. This history begins in 1851. In that year, the Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was established at the University, becoming the first fraternity in the state of North Carolina.²

Months later, the Epsilon Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta would follow, with further fraternities establishing a presence on campus in the succeeding years, including: Beta Theta Pi, Delta Psi, Chi Psi, Delta Phi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Theta Delta Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Zeta Psi.³

Yet, in 1861, the Civil War brought University and fraternity affairs to a halt, with chapters disbanding until the late 1870s. Post-Reconstruction, more fraternities would establish chapters at Chapel Hill, then allowing for their recognition as official student organizations in 1885.

Throughout the early twentieth century, Fraternity Life would only grow in popularity at Chapel Hill, demonstrating the need for a centralized location for the fraternities to share. As a result, Fraternity Row was constructed between 1890 and 1910, occupying the area surrounding Kenan Music Building and Hanes Art Center, just behind Carolina Coffee Shop. ⁴

The houses comprising Fraternity Row featured a rich blend of architectural styles, such as Greek Revival, Bungalow, Rustic, and Victorian. Though the exact architects of these original houses remain unknown, they were likely designed by local construction and architectural firms.

Yet, in 1919, Fraternity Row would burn in a massive fire, prompting the University to take action in moving the fraternity houses off-campus. 

A few landmarks serve as remnants of the original Fraternity Row. 

For instance, Evergreen House, now a community clinic for the Department of Psychology, was formerly the original Kappa Sigma Fraternity Hall.⁵

Further, to a passerby, the rock pile located outside Hanes Art Center may appear insignificant. Yet, this collection of stones most likely comprises the foundation stones of the original fraternity houses— a tangible reminder of the scope and history of Fraternity Life at the University.

Following the 1919 fire, the University would purchase private land bordering Columbia Street and West Cameron Avenue, trading it to the fraternities in exchange for the former Fraternity Row location. 
⁶
In the years following, construction would begin, lasting through the 1920s. The homes were primarily designed by architect Arthur Nash, of the firm Atwood and Nash, and constructed by Brodie Thompson.⁷

Arthur Nash— who designed and contributed to the design of several buildings affiliated with the University throughout this period, including Wilson Library, Kenan Stadium, Graham Memorial, and several dormitories— designed the fraternity houses in the Colonial Revival style, incorporating classical elements such as tall pillars and porticos.⁸

In addition, the North Carolina architectural firm D.J. Rose & Son designed the current Delta Kappa Epsilon house, still following the Colonial Revival style. ⁹

The fraternity houses, designed and constructed following the 1919 fire, would populate the Big and Little Fraternity Courts, the bordering streets, as well as Rosemary Street, where they remain in operation to this day. The result was a more uniform architectural character than Fraternity Row had, reflecting a shift toward planned districts rather than a dense cluster near the campus center.

Citations

1. “Campus Fire Destroys Fraternity Buildings.” The Tar Heel, 17 Jan. 1919. 
   ↩︎
2. “Delta Kappa Epsilon Frat Hall.” Open Orange, 2025.  ↩︎
3. “History and Timeline.” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.  ↩︎
4. “Fraternity Row.” Open Orange, 2025.  ↩︎
5. “Evergreen House.” Open Orange, 2025. ↩︎
6. Little, Margaret Ruth. The Town and Gown Architecture of Chapel Hill, North Carolina: 1795-1975. Preservation Society of Chapel Hill?: Distributed by the University of North Carolina Press, 2006.  ↩︎
7. Szcodronski, Cheri. “Arthur C. and Mary S. A. Nash House.” NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES | NORTH CAROLINA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, 26 Oct. 2017.  ↩︎
8. Caldwell, Martha B. “Nash, Arthur Cleveland.” NCpedia. State Library of NC. 1991. ↩︎
9. “Buy Blueprints – Delta Kappa Epsilon/ U. of North Carolina.” Delta Kappa Epsilon U of North Carolina.  ↩︎

Images, Cited Chronologically

• “Beta Theta Pi, View South West.” Yackety Yack, 1916.
• “Fraternities: Zeta Psi, 1885-1912: Scan 5” in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection Collection #P0004, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• “The Backside of Fraternity Row, View South East, 1920s.” in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• “Photograph of SAE house “SAE1” at Chapel Hill.” [Photograph]. (n.d.). OpenOrange NC.
• “Photograph of “Evergreen House, UNC.” [Photograph]. (n.d.). Open Orange.
• “Photograph of Kappa Sigma house, 1917.” [Photograph]. (n.d.). Open Orange.
• “Photograph of fraternity rocks.” Open Orange site [Photograph]. (n.d.). Open Orange.
• “Fraternity Houses: Pi Kappa Alpha, undated: Scan 1” in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• “Fraternity Houses: Delta Kappa Epsilon (Old), 1920: Scan 1” in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• “Photograph of Kappa Sigma house, 1917.” [Photograph]. (n.d.). Open Orange.
• “Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Brothers Reading on the Porch (Thomas Wolfe at center); View East, 1920.” in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.