In 1869 three young men with a common dream founded Phi Kappa Psi at Cornell.

Cornell and New York Alpha began a relationship that has shaped the lives of more than 1,500 men. The university gave us a reason to exist, and in turn our fraternity has produced alumni who have been some of Cornell's greatest leaders, finest supporters, and most loyal graduates.

During New York Alpha's earliest years, the founders met in Joe Foraker's room downtown and later at the Wilgus and Finch Blocks on State and South Cayuga Streets. After the chapter collapsed with the founding of the Chi Colony of Psi Upsilon, it returned in 1885 to the Gargoyle House, built on the site of what is now Dino’s Bar and Grill in Collegetown. In 1895, Phi Psi moved to its first chapter house, at 103 McGraw Place, which was home for the next 20 years.

In 1915, New York Alpha purchased the Wyckoff Estate, which many alumni remember as home--312 Thurston Avenue. Old 312 served our fraternity proudly for 48 years.

By the late 1950s, 312 Thurston was in need of substantial and costly repairs. Offered the opportunity to sell the property and gain the support of the university, the alumni association leaders joined in partnership with Cornell to construct a new house.

In the fall of 1964, the chapter moved to 525 Stewart Avenue. Hundreds of Phi Psi alumni helped make the construction of the new house a reality through their gifts to Cornell. Although 525 represents a dramatic change in architectural style and interior appearance, the structure has served us well and has been home to over 500 New York Alphans during the past 30 years.

Although 30 years seemed to fly by, many, many changes have taken place in society, in college life, and at Cornell. Fraternities and sororities continue to be an important part of the university because they have maintained a commitment to meeting the changing needs of undergraduate life at Cornell.

As 525 Stewart nears its first major renovation and as we gauge our response to Cornell's call to meet the current and future needs of the university, we have an opportunity to assure Phi Psi's course for the next century. We have a unique opportunity to create a facility that, for the first time since the 1950s, will put us on a par with Cornell's best houses. We have an opportunity to create a home that captures the ambiance we lost when we moved from 312 Thurston. And we have an opportunity to provide our alumni and undergraduates with a facility that finally meets their social and academic needs.

THE GABLES, a name most aptly describing its architectural character, seems fitting for this new fraternity house truly "second to none" at Cornell.