Taylor University

Taylor University. . While many of the local benefits of the 1890s Gas Boom have faded, the siting of Taylor University in Upland is one legacy that remains to this day. Taylor was founded in 1846 in Fort Wayne as a women's college by the Methodist Episcopal Church. By 1855, Taylor University had become a co-educational institution. The University chose to accept Upland's offer of land and a $10,000 donation and relocated to its present site on the south side of Upland in 1893. Upland was then a prosperous and rapidly growing town fueled by the natural gas wells around the town. Even though the wells went dry, Taylor University has remained to become an integral part of the Upland Community., At first, the university had no buildings of its own. Facilities were rented from downtown businesses for classes, and churches lent their buildings for additional space. Students roomed with the town's residents. Two new buildings were constructed in the university's second year in Upland. They were H. Maria Wright Hall, also called the Administration Building, and Sammy Morris Hall, the first dormitory. 160 students attended Taylor University in 1894-95, of which 50 were Upland residents., Taylor University has continued to grow both in size and in stature. It makes a valuable contribution to the economic health and quality of life of Upland.