ver the summer, we
completed a stunning
renovation of the living
room and card room that
overflowed into the other areas of
our first floor at 415 N. 16th Street.
This transformation was steered by
our head of special projects, Julie
Doolittle '78, along with a committee
of capable design enthusiasts and
the professional assistance of the
team at Nell Hills. We have been
eyeing this project over the past few
years as we crept closer and closer
to paying off the mortgage taken out
to complete our major renovation
several years ago. When you have a
home filled with 65 live-ins and used
by a membership more than double
that size, the furniture becomes
worn out and the style choices
outdated. We were eager to set
aside funds over the past year
and a half to plan for this living
room overhaul, and now we are
thrilled to share the results with
all of you. The project involved
painting, replacing all furniture
throughout the living room and
card room, refinishing the
hardwood floors in the living
room, a gorgeous facelift for
the main floor bathroom,
and new wall hangings and
décor throughout. While
the photographs are beautiful, the impact
is even more exciting in person. Hopefully
you find the space as bright, cheerful,
colorful and inviting as we do!
Perhaps most meaningfully, we found a
special way to honor our four founders by
displaying their photographs prominently
on the dining room walls. Each Monday
evening as our members gather for
dinner, they are joined by the memory of
Helen M. Dodge, Alpha 1874, Frances
E. Haven, Alpha 1874, E. Adeline Curtis,
Alpha 1874, and Mary A. Bingham,
Alpha 1874.
Our chapter house and the things inside
it, from the couches and the carpets to the
wall hangings and the paint, are just that:
things. However, it is inside these walls
that we often see our vision achieved:
building confident women of character
who celebrate sisterhood and make a
difference in the world around us.
Separately: As a special project, we are
raising funds dedicated to refurbishing our
piano. If you would like to contribute to
that endeavor, please contact me!
In IIKE,
Jill Weyand Fiddler '99
Pi Chapter Affiliated House
Corporation President
pichapterachpresident@yahoo.com
"The power of finding beauty in the humblest
things makes home happy and life lovely."
— Louisa May Alcott
Summer Renovations Include Honoring Our Founders
Pi Chapter Focuses on Making a Difference
Gamma Phi Beta • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fall 2017
