A Sturdy House for a Sturdy Brotherhood
After moving into the House in the Fall of 1947, members began long range structural improvements to the property. The men of the fraternity did most of the work, resuming early from summer vacations and spending various holidays at the House. They learned through these projects that the Chapter House was constructed of massive logs; it was the oldest structure in Lewisburg.
In the same year the fraternity took a very important step towered assuring a bright future for the organization. Assisted by a rapidly growing alumni and a successful active Chapter, the alumni officers purchased an acre of ground on the University Campus -- the sight for a new fraternity house. This was the first step in a plan to build a new fraternity "House on the Hill".
From 1950 to June of 1958 the chapter prospered and quickly became a strong force on the Bucknell campus. The total number of actives and pledges ranged from 85 to 95 brothers, making Phi Lam one of the largest and strongest fraternities at Bucknell. Phi Lam, Sigma Alpha Mu, and Delta Upsilon were in continuous contention for the Scholarship Trophy with PLT winning first place much more frequently than the others. In extra curricular endeavors, PLT leadership was evident in a variety of organizations, from the Bucknellian and CA (now Concern and Action) to Cap and Dagger. Three years in succession the fraternity won a trophy for House party Weekend decorations. One of the most extravagant projects involved encasing the house in a paper castle complete with water and moat, while on the lawn was a larger than life paper Mache Knight and figure of Mighty Mouse blunting his lance. Inside a dungeon was decorated with early weapons and symbols of heraldry.
The most popular social tradition was "pow wow", a springtime ritual during which members and their dates vied to create the most authentic Indian costume. The interior of the Chapter House often resembled an Indian teepee.
Pinning was still a popular tradition and for each pin lost, the Phi Lam chorus, its members attired in White shirts and dart trousers, serenaded someone in the "sem". They sang "No Finer Men", "Phi Lam Sweetheart", "Do you Recall", and "I Love You Truly". The pinning brother had to sing one verse alone. More than one brother kept his pin because he didn't trust his vocal chords. Some even hired stand ins.
Among the active leaders at this time were two members of the Woodward family, George and Mel, who both served as president. Mel has been actively affiliated with the fraternity for 25 years, as has Tom Deans, alumni president on three separate occasions, who graduated in 1955.
Because of the Chapters large size, the fraternity was able to pay for remodeling and to complete payment on the "House on the Hill" lot. So successful was the Active Chapter that by 1957 it was clear that 34 Brown Street was not large enough. Periodic flooding was also a problem.