Roosevelt opened on Friday, Febuary 22nd, 1924. Roosevelt Middle School
(RMS) used to be named Roosevelt Junior High school. It was the first school
constructed in the city of Erie, and has the seating capacity of between
1000 and 1100. The cost of the building, including general work heating
and ventilation, plumbing, electrical work, clocks, bells and telephones
was $480,156.00. The building has a cubic area of 1,580,000 sq ft.. The
equipment, including lockers, light fixture, desks, opera chairs, teachers'
desks and chairs, window shades, stage curtains, cabinet work, cafeteria
equipment, etc., was installed at the cost of $40,200.00. Our first principal
was Mr. C.F. Brokway. In addition to the administrative offices,
special provisions had been made for rest rooms for both the teachers and
students, as well as for a "medical inspection room" (nurses office).
There were seventeen regular class rooms and one large study hall, two
general science labs, a cooking room, a sewing room, two general shop rooms,
library ( book capacity 3,500 volumes), a gym, shower and locker rooms,
including two seperate shower and dressing rooms in connection and adjoining
the Athletic Field, auditorium ( seating capacity 1,015), cafeteria and
store rooms. A new feature in this building was the use of battleship linoleum
in the corridors (hallways) in place of wood floors. The paved courts adjacent
to the auditorium were used for open walkways and phyical exercises.
Source: Opening Ceremonial Pamphlet,
Roosevelt Middle School-1924