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

Page 13 text:

I Building projects aided Taylor ] m Qi k;nfiA! S Ml A new problem presented itself shortly. During the early years of the school, natural gas was abundant in the vicinity. A gas well on the campus was used exclusively for lighting and heating until 1906 when steam heat was installed. The exhaus- tion of the gas well, necessitating the switch to the more expensive method of heating, was a great fi- nancial loss to the school. The next arrangement, individual heating for each building, proved to be very inadequate: in the winters holding classes was almost an impossibility. A new heating plant was begun in the spring of 1911, built on the low plot of ground across from the post office. This plant was used for ten years, then replaced by the present one. The spot where it had once stood was, in 1925, as a class gift from the seniors of that year, transformed into what was for many years and many romances the most beautifully romantic place on campus — the Sunken Gardens. Another building project which was launched in 1911 was the Helena Music Hall, now most commonly called Shreiner. This much-needed building was made possible largely through the generous gift of Mrs. Helena Gehman, a woman interested in Taylor, whose will provided the sum of $7000 to be used in the erection of this structure. The entire main floor was equipped as music studios and practice rooms for individual study. Mr. Shreiner, a local preacher and friend of Taylor, agreed to furnish additional funds for a large music hall to be used for recitals and concerts, and thus his name was given to the auditorium on the second floor of this building. As a result of these fine facilities, the School of Music became one of the strongest departments of the University, while it still main- tained various distinct schools of study. The addi- tion of the pipe organ, given by the class of 1928, added to the musical enjoyment of all. Helena Memorial Music Hall

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l iTfiia ArfftAiiiiBfffr Ad Building fire crucial All the major financial crises through which the school passed were not, however, far back in Taylor ' s history. The burning of the Administra- tion Building in 1960 proved to be a more recent one. That fire destroyed the academic records of all past graduates from the school, many of the tradi- tional memorabilia connected with the great past of the institution, like the Mace, the symbol of au- thority. The loss gave rise to a plan to remove the school back to Fort Wayne, but when it was decided to remain here, new life was infused into the old campus; more daring, long-range plans were made; and a major building program was launched. cs m ifp eleven