Niles High School

Drawing of 'The Little White School House. PO1.1169	Niles High School. The first public school, a little white frame building, was erected after 1834 on North Main Street, on the McKinley Memorial grounds next to the Presbyterian Church. In this one room school house, the teacher was expected to teach the three R's to all levels and maintain discipline. One room school houses were also located on Chestnut Street, Walnut Street and two more were reported on the South Side of Niles. In 1842, the Leslie Avenue School was built near the northeast corner of Leslie and Linden Avenues. This frame building was renamed Grant Street School in 1920. It has been razed. The three story brick and mortar Central School building opened in 1871. Frank Carl E. Robbins was the first student to graduate from Cental School in 1875. After a fire in the mid 1920's, Central School was demolished and a public park was erected on that site.

Originally thought to be Central High School, it is unknown which school this is. PO1.1221	The first brick school, Central School, was located on Furnace Street, now State Street, near Church Street. The building was a three story brick structure with arched windows and brick details on each corner of the building. There were six teachers employed including the principal. The road was dirt and transportation was by horse and wagon. The bell for the tower was cast by A. Fulton and Sons of Pittsburgh, PA.	Front view of Central School showing brickwork. PO1.1178

	In 1914, Niles High School was under construction facing Church Street between Arlington and Chestnut Streets. The cornerstone is being laid in the image to the left. Construction workers use scaffolding to work on third floor windows in image on the right. In 1958 it was renamed Edison junior High School when the new Niles McKinley High School opened on Dragon Drive. In 2004 it was razed and senior apartments were built.	PO5.52

Niles High School as it appeared in 1936. PO2.480 People gathered for a program inside of Edison Jr. High auditorium. PO1.1667	Industrial arts room on the second floor of the Annex. PO1.1957 Outdoor playground which later became the enclosed Annex with cafeteria, shop, music and gym shower rooms..	Front entranceway of the former Niles High School that would become Edison Jr High in 1958 housing grades 7-9. The front portico is now featured inside the new Middle School on Brown Street that was built in 2003. PO3.38


Row 1. Louis Tauro, Sietz, Jim Chiarmonte, Sam Biviano, Soda Row 2 .Pete Dunco, Phil Ragazzo, Sam Infante, Guy Churazzi, Bill Bender, Bill Litvin, Bob Slick, Cornell LePore, Lew Smith Coach Row .3 Bill Jones, Muche, Jack Sanyer, Dean Rees, Joe Driscoll, Royce McCormick, John Madden Row 4. Sam Matteo, Steve Halleck, Joe Schink, Joe McCormick, John Kosance, Joe Tricomi. Row 5. Palmer Scarnecchia, Pete McMurray, Francis Scarnecchia, Chick Waters, John Baer, John Lewis, Alex Yuhasz. PO11.287	The Junior class of 1928 taken in front of the old McKinley High School. PO2.495	Niles School band 1941 all in uniform. Ruth Fisher, first front row; Mary Whitney, last front row. James Bill Holmes, marked on second row. PO11.180

The football stadium was built as a WPA project in 1934. PO3.7	The old Niles High school (Edison Jr.) is in the background. PO2.411	Click here to continue to Niles McKinley High School (1958 - present day) webpage