In 1904 the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania purchased a lot at 47 South College Street from Merkel Landis, Esq., class of 1896, at a cost of $1,200.

Construction began according to the designs of M. I. Kast of Harrisburg in 1906, and in January 1907 the $4,000 building was completely finished. It consisted of three stories, the façade being composed of brown stone on the first floor with the other two bearing shingles under a slate roof. The first floor housed the social space, the second floor was the dormitory area, and the third floor provided a meeting room for the fraternity.

By 1923 the house had become too crowded, and so the fraternity purchased the former home of John Lindner on North College Street.