As Idaho State University celebrates its 125th anniversary, one of the College of Pharmacy’s most historic symbols is receiving a long-awaited rebirth. The Phi Delta Chi fraternity house, home to generations of student pharmacists, has begun a major renovation led by alumnus Dr. Josh Gehrke, PharmD, ’09.
The house became home to Phi Delta Chi in the 1960s and served as a hub of pharmacy student life for decades. Alumni remember crowded study sessions, shared meals, and a bedroom filled with the chapter’s treasured file cabinet of exams and study guides stretching back to the 1980s.
But by 2010, years of aging systems and a devastating flood forced students out. From 2015 forward, the house stood mostly vacant and in disrepair, at risk of being lost altogether.
When plans for renovations began, about 20 alumni, most of them former Phi Delta Chi members, contributed what they could to help save the house. Their gifts provided meaningful early support and demonstrated the pride and loyalty shared across generations of brothers.
However, as repair estimates grew into a substantial overhaul, it became clear that far more funding would be needed. In the absence of major outside support, Josh Gehrke personally absorbed the majority of the renovation costs, taking on property taxes, structural repairs, and the extensive system upgrades required to bring the house back to life.
Gehrke lived in the house beginning in 2001, managed it for six years, and remembers the early 2000s as “good years” when every room was full and the brotherhood strong. Seeing the house sit empty for nearly a decade, he made a decision:
“I’m going to get this done—and done right.”
With limited fundraising options and alumni spread across the country, he stepped in to ensure the property wouldn’t be lost and that future students would once again have a place to call home.
The current $150,000 renovation brings the house fully into the modern era while preserving its legacy.
Completed or in-progress upgrades include:
- Full electrical overhaul, removing outdated knob-and-tube wiring
- Replacement of all galvanized plumbing
- New sewer line, roof, and foundation repairs
- New flooring, paint, kitchen, and appliances
- A new basement bathroom and improved landscaping
Next steps include reinforcing rafters, replacing aging windows, and converting the former study room into two new full bathrooms, creating a five-bedroom, 4.5-bath layout suitable for students.
Gehrke’s long-term goal is to turn the house into a sustainable asset.
“I’d like it to become a revenue generator—to support future fraternity members, help students, and strengthen the College of Pharmacy,” Gehrke says.
The house could serve pharmacy students, general ISU students, or help reestablish Phi Delta Chi when the time is right. Its restoration ensures the chapter’s traditions and its place in ISU’s history remain alive.
How Alumni Can Help
Alumni who wish to support the project may be able to contribute through an existing College of Pharmacy fund. Gifts will help complete remaining structural upgrades and ensure the house remains a resource for generations of future pharmacists.
“This house is a symbol of the town, the College, and the closeness that defines our alumni community,” said Dr. Tom Wadsworth, dean of the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy and Health Professions. “It reflects our heritage and 104 years of continuous operation, representing generations of pharmacists who learned, lived, and grew together here in Pocatello. Because of Josh Gerke and the donors who gave to that fund, this symbol of connection and tradition will continue to stand for future Bengals.”
For information, please contact Tabatha Butler, Assistant Vice President of Development for the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences at ISU, at (208) 282-3617 or by email at tabathabutler2@isu.edu.