The House of Alpha

GOODWILL is the monarch of this house.
Men, unacquainted, enter, shake hands,
exchange greetings, and depart friends.
Cordiality exists among all who abide within.
Excerpt from The House of Alpha by Sidney P. Brown

These words were penned in 1923 long before the Detroit Alpha House was acquired. But one would think Brother Brown had 293 Eliot in mind when he wrote the iconic poem. 293 Eliot embodies the spirit of history, brotherhood and purpose that is shared by all Alpha men. When guests step into the Alpha House for the first time, they are bowled over by the sense of tradition, history and social significance.

Throughout the years, accounts of social events and receptions were documented in local and national publications. In 1940, the chapter hosted their first “Twilight Hour” at the Alpha House in honor of Brother Belford V. Lawson, who had been appointed General Counsel of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Support of the Community

Through the A Voteless People is a Hopeless People program the fraternity addressed voting rights and through the Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College program they addressed educational access and disparities. Beginning with the first scholarship awarded in 1949, the Gamma Lambda Chapter has since awarded over 480 scholarships totaling almost $500,000 through the Gamma Lambda Education Foundation.

Like all chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha, Gamma Lambda, through both national and local programs, has played a significant role in the twentieth century Civil Rights Movement. The accomplishments of Gamma Lambda, and the work taking place at 293 Eliot Street drew attention from outside Detroit. Internationally known Alpha men, such as Paul Robeson and Thurgood Marshall came to the Alpha House to lend their support and assistance.

Alpha Phi Alpha General Conventions

The Gamma Lambda Chapter has served as host to four Alpha Phi Alpha General Conventions-1925, 1953, 1968 and 2003. During the Forty-Seventh Anniversary General Convention in 1953, Brother Thurgood Marshall delivered the keynote address. As described in Winter 1953 Sphinx magazine, the Alpha House offered to its guests “facilities for complete relaxation and enjoyment. The bar at all times is well stocked with a beverage of your choice. Visiting brothers will have no need to spend any time between convention programs unpleasantly.”

In 1968, the Gamma Lambda Chapter hosted the Sixty-Second Anniversary General Convention. There were one thousand four hundred fifty registered attendees. The keynote address was delivered by Brother Ramon Scruggs, who eloquently stated  “Now, what is Alpha Phi Alpha’s role and responsibility? Simply stated, it is this. To make certain that there are no Black spectators in this struggle to make Black Americans free.”

Major Renovations Before the 2003 General Convention

Prior to the 2003 Alpha Phi Alpha General Convention, more than two hundred thousand dollars was spent renovating the house using funds from federal grants and donations. Building systems were modernized, including new plumbing, heating, electric and the addition of air conditioning. All this work was done in coordination with the City of Detroit Historic District Commission, taking care to maintain and preserve historic features of the house using similar materials and workmanship when possible.

The front porch area was rebuilt, including replacing columns that were showing rot. The old porch was pulling down the front of the house and needed to be stabilized. The first-floor windows were replaced with new windows that matched the style of the originals. The second-floor front office windows and all third-floor windows are the original windows.