Between 1910 and 1925 the Erie School District’s biggest problem was keeping up with the growth of the city’s population. Students were also beginning to stay in school longer, which only added to the problems of overcrowding. In 1915 a bond was issued for the completion of Wayne, Remodeling of Central and construction of Lincoln and East to help eliminate the overcrowding (Anderson, 1976).

In 1916 the Erie City School Board and a nationally known architect began planning East High School. The plan was based upon the idea that school buildings should have sunlight, large windows and grand open spaces as well as art. “The great structure was magnificent in it’s glory form the hand-chiseled limestone urns and pedestals, the Henry Chapman Mercer tiles on the front of the building, the American Encaustic Tile Company’s water fountain splash backs, to the Tennessee marble molding, and the wrought iron stair railings. (Tom Tom, May4, 2003)”

East High School’s shop wing was constructed in 1918 and opened as a Junior High in 1919 with C.W. McNary as the Principal. Architect William Butts Ittner, of St. Louis Missouri, designed the school. It was built by the Sutherland Building and Contracting Company, also of St. Louis, Missouri. The school cost the district a total of $1,420,000 to build, including $38,000 for the site, $1,205,500 for construction and $176,500 for the equipment. The main building was finished in 1920. On November 3, 1921 the dedication ceremony for East High School was held.