Texas Wesleyan University is engrained in Fort Worth history, and connected to its residents both past and present. Did you know our campus didn’t always look the way it does today? Since the beginning of our long history, Wesleyan has received multiple updates to its beautiful, historical campus.

One building that has seen significant changes over the years is the Ann Waggoner Fine Arts Building. Designed by Sanguinet and Staats in 1909, the auditorium wing of the Ann Waggoner Fine Arts Building was intended for the Polytechnic United Methodist Church (PUMC). Many North Texans are familiar with Sanguinet and Staats because of their involvement in the design of many of Fort Worth’s commercial buildings. This historical structure carries the Waggoner namesake because of the generous financial contribution of $35,000 to oversee the completion of its construction.

During this time, Texas Wesleyan wasn’t even “Wesleyan”, it was Texas Woman’s College. The building served as the primary worship center until 1923, when the PUMC moved to a new building located on the northwest corner of Avenue E and Wesleyan Street (which has since been converted into a parking lot) next to Dan Waggoner Hall.

In 1965, the Fine Arts Building was renovated with funds contributed by Otho C. Means Armstrong and his wife, Elizabeth. This building would see its next renovation in 2001-2002, as well as receive its new name, Nicholas Martin Hall. This new name would serve to honor Nicholas Martin; husband of trustee Louella Baker Martin.

One thing is for sure, here at Wesleyan we pay homage to those that have walked before us and paved the way for future students to be successful; who knows, maybe one day you too can have your last name intertwined with our rich history to encourage and inspire a new generation of Rams.

This is part of a series of historical postings related to the 125^th anniversary of Texas Wesleyan University, which was established in 1890. New installments will be published twice a month and for six months.