St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, better known as St. A's is a national organization that was founded at Columbia in 1847 and has since established chapters at elite universities around the country. It has the Greek letter designation Delta Psi. As Columbia's was the first chapter of the organization, it is known as the Alpha Chapter.
It is best described as half fraternity, half literary society. Though secretive, the organization is known for its formalwear parties, and rumors of cocaine use abound.
At Columbia, St. A's owns a building on Riverside Drive adjacent to Woodbridge, between 116th and 115th Streets.
The cover of Vampire Weekend's first album shows the chandelier at the club's Columbia house.
History
St. A's was first founded at Columbia on January 17, 1847, the feast day of St. Anthony. It did not have a home of its own until 1879, when the first St. A's house opened. It is still standing at 29 E. 28th St. and was designed by the firm of Columbia College alum James Renwick, Jr. (Recent research indicates the building itself may have been designed by William Hamilton Russell, graduate of the School of Mines (now SEAS) and a former member of St. A's.[1])
According to the New York Times, "old photographs show a high stoop arrangement with the figure of an owl on the peeked roof and a plaque with the Greek letters Delta Psi over the windowless chapter room. In 1879 the New York Tribune called it French Renaissance, but the stumpy pilasters and blocky detailing suggest the Neo-Grec style then near the end of its popularity." A late 19th century newspaper account dubbed the building a "perfect Bijou of tasteful decoration"
The present house on Riverside Drive was built in 1899, just after Columbia's move to Morningside Heights, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Henry Hornbostel, an 1891 alum and former St. A's member who had gone on to study at Paris' Ecole des Beaux Arts. The former house was kept for a few years as a club for members from all chapters. From 1904 to 1990, a purpose-built St. Anthony's Club also operated for members of all branches of the society in an E. 64th St. townhouse.
Notable members
- Eric Garcetti CC '92 - President of the Los Angeles City Council
- Stewart Woodford CC 1854 - nearly the Republican Vice Presidential candidate
