It was named for John House Lehman, "in honor of his extensive, untiring, and unselfish efforts for the public school system.

It was used on a temporary basis housing students while several elementary schools in Canton were being razed and rebuilt.

[3] Around 2009, after the district discovered trespassing in the building, they had electricity suspended as a deterrent.

[4] On August 24, 2017, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Lehman Polar Bears were members of the Hall of Fame Conference for football.