The suburb of East York was being developed with the foresight that industrial expansion would attract a great increase in population. John H. Longstreet’s vision foresaw the pathway of expansion.

Many beautiful homes were soon built and more building lots awaited new owners.

Known to many as the “Keesey Tract,” the East York area was then listed as “fronting, for two-thirds of a mile, on both sides of Market Street, York’s main thoroughfare, and part of the Great Lincoln Highway.” Only an eleven-minute ride from center square, it featured high ground with perfect natural drainage, cement walks and curbs, macadamized streets, pure filtered water, electric lights, and a complete sewer system.

The York Railways Company lines ran the entire length of Market Street through the center of the tract and to adjoining boroughs. For a single carfare, you could ride the entire length of Market Street.

This East York area offered its members all the privileges of an up-to-date club. Of which any resident could be member and enjoy its privileges, including: dining services, games, lawn tennis, and the entire social advantages attendant thereto. The club’s privileges were also open to members’ families.

In 1912, the John S. Heistand School was built in this area on land donated by John S. Longstreet. This school was built in what was then the Independent School District. A graded school, managed by a progressive Board of Directors, its students were taught by competent teachers in all grades from first to eighth and prepared for entrance into York High School.

There, tuition was paid for by the Independent School District under an agreement with the city school board.

This first consideration in designing and erecting the building was the children’s welfare. The building was located in the center of ample playgrounds, had two classrooms, boys’ and girls’ cloakrooms, functional toilets, and large basement playrooms for use in bad weather. The school, where all students and residents could obtain free use of well-selected books, also maintained a public library.

On East Market Street and nearby stood the area residences of George L. Stallman, Charles E. Tucker, Mahlon N. Haines, Congressman E.S. Brooks, Professor C.B. Heinly, Cleaver and Merrihew, William J. Gribben, E. P. Minnich, Dr. J.E. Barrick, and Sarah J. Mitzel.

Old East York is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains to this day a thriving and close-knit community.

(from Springettsbury Township's History)