History
The interest group was established early in 1946 by 12 interested students, many of them returning veterans from WWII. The group met at the College YMCA to begin discussions to form the colony.
The 'connection' with SAE was Dr. Harold Lampe, Dean of Engineering at State (his son Ross was in the first pledge class). Dean Lampe would become the first faculty advisor.
Two other alumni involved in the founding included Joe Powell, of Tarboro, who was an agent for the County Agricultural Extension Service in Edgecombe County and Montgomery Hill of Raleigh.
The interest group obtained the use of a big house on Hillsborough Street (near where the Velvet Cloak is today) for meetings and occasional use for socials. None of the members lived there. The first home was on Horne Street just off of Hillsborough Street... behind the Varsity Movie Theater.
In August of 1947 word came from the 91st SAE Convention that the delegates voted to approved the charter and the colony would be known as North Carolina Alpha.
In the fall 1947 semester, the alumni, existing members, and some guests conducted the first initiation at Christ Episcopal Church (120 East Edenton). Ross Lampe and Buddy Boyles were the first pledge class.
Walter Clark from Greensboro was the first elected Eminent Archon while Pate Forehand was EA by acclamation in the beginning of the semester.
THE SAE RECORD of November 1960 presented the Hillsborough Street 'house' on the cover.
Dean Harold Lampe
Christ Episcopal Church