Taylor University - Ilium / Gem Yearbook (Upland, IN)

Page 15 text:

Dormitory building under construction been carted in, a holiday was declared. On a fine spring morning, the students turned out with shovel and hoe, mixed the concrete and laid the walk. Slowly, section by section other walks were built. All that existed between the school and the town was a dangerous board walk. Some suggested replacing the boards, but Dr. Vayhinger objected un- til concrete could be laid. The town council ordered the walk to be laid, and the property owners built the walk from the town to the school. Mr. C. C. Ayres, brother of Dr. Burt W. Ayres, furnished the capital to finance many of the walks about the campus and the walk to town. It is amusing to note that after the side- walk to Upland was completed there came a demand for a change in the rules con- cerning the social privileges of the stu- dents, to permit couples to attend church together on Sunday evenings. In the development of school policies one of the foremost plans was that Taylor should develop into a self-sustaining in- stitution, having correlated activities in which a large percentage of the students would be able to find employment. This policy has been carried out in a highly successful manner, not only in maintain- ing, but also in building and expanding the school. Taylor is still giving employ- ment to the students who are willing to work in any place where they qualify. Shortly after Dr. Vayhinger had got the building situaiton in hand, a new problem presented itself. Each building at that time had its own heating facilities which proved very inadequate. In severe weather it was nearly impossible to hold classes. The time for action had come, so work on a new heating plant was started in the spring of 1911. Located in the low spot on the northeast corner of the campus, this plant served the school for ten years, when it was abandoned for the present one. Today the only vestige of the old plant is the storage well shown by the concrete cover. The spot where it once stood has been transformed into one of the most beautiful spots on the campus — the Sunken Gardens — a gift to the school by the class of 1925. Another building project which was launched in 1911 was the Helena Music Hall. This much-needed building was made possible largely through the gener- ous gift of Mrs. Helena Gehman, a woman interested in Taylor, whose will provided the sum of $7,000 to be used in the erection of this structure. The entire main floor was given over to music studios and practice rooms. Mr. Shreiner, a local preacher, and friend of Taylor, agreed to furnish additional funds for the music hall, and thus his name was given to the audi- torium on the second floor of this building. As a result of this adequate preparation, the School of Music became one of the strongest departments of the University. The addition of the pipe organ, given by the class of 1928, has added to the musical enjoyment of everyone. A new dormitory for the girls became a necessity. Dr. Silas C. Swallow, whose :-(J 100 YEARS r AL=3.. illll : -: !% Maytag Gymnasium nearing completion

Page 14 text:

The school farm — adjoining Ihe campus aided the school by writing books and preaching throughout the country. He wrote an account of the life of Sammy Morris and with the money earned from this, built the Sammy Morris Building, now used as apartments for married couples. Had Dr. Reade not been able to see a new and glorious day for Taylor, with his prophetic eye of faith, he would surely have given up many times in despair. But Dr. Reade toiled until his death, and was denied the privilege of seeing the ac- complishment of his dreams. What he built, he built well, working with that ceaseless energy and clear vision of which few are capable. It leaves one breathless marvelling at this man, who braved well the hunger, danger, hardship and suffering — all for the love of One, who also had suffered and willingly died. The call came to Dr. Reade to give and he gave himself; the call came to go, and he went everywhere spreading happiness; the call came to come and he came to Taylor University, giving freely of all he had to offer. His life was a shining example to all those with whom he came in contact, and his memory has lived on in others whose lives were inspired by his testimony. Then came the day in the year 1902 when the workman had to lay down his tools, and the weary, burdened soul slipped away from under the load into the waiting arms of Christ. He was buried on the campus of Taylor University, where a memorial to this great man was erected in the year 1924. His uncompleted task was left to other hands. At the death of every great man, some- one arises to take up the falling torch and carry it forward. With Dr. Reade ' s failing health, Dr. John H. Shilling was made Vice President and took over a large share of the administration, and after the death of Dr. Reade became acting president until the close of the scholastic year 1902-03. Desiring to further his own education, Dr. Shilling was granted a leave of absence for two years of study in the East. Here he also served a pastorate, and while hold- ing revivals on this charge he became sud- denly ill, which illness resulted in death at the age of 32 years. Dr. Shilling, a tire- less worker, was the personification of push and punctuality. One of his expres- sions was, It has to go. We ' ll make it go. In his busy life he still found time for poetry, and he wrote a number of poems himself. Between the close of Dr. Shilling ' s Ad- ministration and the coming of Dr. Charles W. Winchester in January 1904, Dr. Burt W. Ayres was acting president and dean. There was an interim with Dr. Albert R. Archibald as acting president in 1907-08. In those difficult days when the school was trying hard to get on its feet, an able leader was found in Dr. Monroe Vay- hinger, whose faith in God and persever- ance in his work was a tremendous help in the building of a greater Taylor. Plans were made for the enlargement and beautification of the campus. In the spring of 1909, the first concrete walk was laid from the door of the Administration Building to the north entrance of the cam- pus and then to Sickler Hall. The date may still be seen in the walk east of Sickler. After the gravel and cement had

Page 16 text:

Air view of campus of Taylor University wife ' s family name was Robin, became interested in the plan and agreed to aid substantially in the erection of the pro- posed dormitory. It was named Swallow- Robin in honor of the first donors to the structure. During the early years of the school, natural gas was abundant in the vicinity. There was a gas well on the campus used exclusively for lighting and heating until 1906, when steam heat was installed. The loss of natural gas was of course, a great financial loss to the school. The remaining 70 acres of the 80 acre plot from which the original campus was taken became one of the most valuable additions to the school. It was purchased for $7,000, of which $5,000 was donated by Mrs. Martha McGrew in 1915, and the re- maining taken in small subscriptions. Mrs. McGrew later gave $1,000 to build the large dairy barn on this farm. In 1919, those who knew the loved Taylor were disappointed to learn that the spire on the tower of the Administration Building had to be removed because of danger from lightning. It was so woven into the chain of associations, in picture and song, that it seemed as if it were a personal loss. During this time student activities grew very much. New organizations were formed, and old ones quickened into new life. In 1903 a few earnest young men who were seeking to learn the art of pub- lic speaking, develop powers of logical reasoning, and to obtain a knowledge of parliamentary law, bonded themselves to- gether and formed the Eureka Debating Club. Another Boys ' Debating Society, the Eulogonion Debating Club was organized in 1906. This club held weekly debates and inter-club debates were elected for fall and winter terms. On November 13, 1913, the Soangetaha Debating Society, the first among the girls, was organized under the sponsorship of Sadie Miller. In the fall of 1921, girls met and organized the Mnanka Debating Society. It was dur- ing this period that sports assumed their rightful prominence in the student life of the school. Basketball soon grew into a major sport on the campus. Taylor students possessed love of country as well as love of God. During World War I military units were present at the University. In the days of sacrifice, the religious trend was at its height as great revivals were seen during three years of 1918-1921. A brief administration of Dr. James M. Taylor followed the presidency of Dr. Vay- hinger. During his term of office there was projected a great building program which, while it expanded the real estate holdings, increased the school ' s indebtedness. It was during this brief administration that the ownership of the institution passed from the National Associalion of Local Preachers to the Alumni Association, a 100 YEARS! M