Gary High School

Early History

United States Coal & Coke Corporation, when constructing Gary, had allocated land for at least two schools. The first school, for white children, was built in November 1903 along Red Cross Street.(1) Another, for Negros, was built earlier in October 1903.

Prior to the creation of the County Board of Education (B.O.E.) in 1933, the responsibility of educating students fell within each magistrate district. The Adkin District was formed in 1904, and J. M. B. Reis, General Superintendent of Gary Operations, became president of the District B.O.E.(1) One year later, Edward O’ Toole became General Manager of the Gary Operations, and Toole also took on the job as president of the Adkin B.O.E.

Growth

In 1912, a special election was held that featured only three questions on the ballot initiative:

• Authorize $40,000 in bonds for funding to improve existing school buildings.
• Authorize a levy to provide a suitable building for high school education.
• Establish a new high school.

The district voted heavily in favor of a new high school, and all three initiatives were easily passed. Construction began soon after the vote, and the new Adkins District School, which served students from the Gary Grade School for white students, and the small number of Adkins District High School students, opened in 1913.(1) The nine room two-story school was finished at a cost of $30,000.

Due to the rapid population gain of Gary, a bigger facility was needed, especially for high school students. In 1924, a large two-story high school and gymnasium was constructed for $175,000.(1) A wing of six classrooms was added four years later, and a new gymnasium was constructed in 1938 for $50,000. Finally in 1952, the central utility plant and the music building was finished.

In September 1965, Gary District High was merged with Gary High, and the elementary school was moved to Gary District High.(2) In 1978, Gary High School merged with Welch High to form the consolidated Mt. View High School.(1)