The Purchase of 125 Edgemoor

Purple, Green, and Gold

October 31, 1921

William F. "Bill" Stotz '20 O-88 wrote this review of 125 Edgemoor Lane for the November 1921 Purple, Green, and Gold, and much of his description still applies.

Omicron at Cornell University this fall took possession of a splendid new home… at one of the strongest Greek-letter centers in the country…

The lot… extends, in the rear, to Cascadilla gorge, where a summer house, built upon a rock promontory, commands a beautiful outlook over the ravine. Another promontory, about one hundred feet west of the one above mentioned [Plunkett's Point], is located on the property…. The house… has three stories, in addition to a basement and an attic. The foundation and first story are of native stone. The second st ory is of buff plaster with wood panels intervening. The steeply sloping roof forms the third story and attic….

The first floor is so arranged as to rank high from a utilitarian standpoint, but it also provides that which Omicron has long wanted, an adequate place in which to hold dances and other social entertainments…. Heavy green curtains, faced with white on the outside, harmonize well with the dark woodwork…. The rooms are connected by broad arched doorways, so that the entire floor may be thrown open for dancing. Opening from the hall arethelibrary on the west, the living room on the east; two coat-rooms, one on each side of the vestibule; with a phone booth and wash-room under the stairs, which are directly opposite the entrance….

 

South of the library is the enclosed porch with its removable glass doors, which are taken away in the summer. South of [the living room] is the music room with the piano, Victrola, and traps, not to mention the instruments belonging to the various members. The dining-room, which one enters through the music room, presents a very home-like appearance with its dark woodwork, paneled ceiling, and cheery lights…. Opening from the dining-room is the pantry, with a dumb-waiter and stairs affording communication with the kitchen directly beneath.

The studies are on the second and third floors. Eight are located on the second floor, while seven more and a bath are on the third. Dormitories, in which all of the men sleep, are on the second and third floors, in an addition built this summer directly over the dining-room, where formerly this portion of the house was only one story high. This has given Omicron more space for studies, and makes possible the accommodation with ease of forty-five men, The kitchen, as has been mentioned, is in the basement, which also includes servant quarters, store rooms, heating plant, coal bins, a trunk room, and the [High] Zeta room.