Mile Square in Oxford in Butler County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Beta Bell Tower
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
1. Beta Bell Tower Marker
was presented
to
Miami University
by
Beta Theta Pi
the first
college fraternity to
be founded west of the
Allegheny Mountains.
Celebrating one hundred
fifty years of cherished
brotherhood on
August 8 1989
Beta Theta Pi
honors here the
fraternity's founders
and three great principles
John Reily Knox 1839 Samuel Taylor Marshall 1840 David Linton 1839 James George Smith 1840 Charles Henry Hardin 1841 John Holt Duncan 1840 Michael Clarkson Ryan 1839 Thomas Boston Gordon 1840
"of ever honored memory"
The Peal of Bells
in this tower
was dedicated
to the service of
Miami University
by
Beta Theta Pi
one hundred years after
its foundation here, on
August 8, 1839
A century and a quarter after
its founding 1839 the fraternity
of Beta Theta Pi gathered here
to reaffirm its dedication to
cultivation of the intellect
friendship and fidelity
August 1964
Uniting on the
occasion of its
175th anniversary
August 8, 2014
Beta Theta Pi
recommitted to
developing
men of principle
for a principled life
and cherished
beta sentiments.
"friendship gave
our order birth."
-"there's a scene"
chapter
this page online
"get wisdom, and with all thy
getting, get understanding."
- proverbs 4:7
"the first mark of a beta
will be his beta spirit."
- Willis O. Robb, Ohio Wesleyan 1879
Erected 1939.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 8, 1989.
Location. 39° 30.587′ N, 84° 44.113′ W. Marker is in Oxford, Ohio, in Butler County. It is in Mile Square. It is at the intersection of Irvin Drive and East High Street on Irvin Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Irvin Dr, Oxford OH 45056, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cincinnati and in the Miami Valley. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
2. Beta Bell Tower Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Miami's Path to Carbon Neutrality (within shouting distance of this marker); The Act of 1794 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Upham Hall (about 600 feet away); Percy Mackaye (about 700 feet away); Paperbark Maple (about 700 feet away); Percy MacKaye / "The Poet's Shack" (about 800 feet away); William Holmes McGuffey House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stanton's "Magnificent Dwelling" / Elizabeth Cady Stanton (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oxford.
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
3. Beta Bell Tower Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
4. Beta Bell Tower Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
5. Beta Bell Tower Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025
6. Beta Bell Tower Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 12, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
