 It was clear that a new Decatur High School would need to be constructed to keep pace with the demand for educational services in the growing city of Decatur, Illinois.That replacement building opened in the fall of 1911 in the block to the west of the older high school building, at the northeast corner of East North and North Franklin Streets, with an address of 400 North Franklin Street.The original portion of the building was constructed of red brick and had marble columns on the main west entrance.