Biographical Information

East was a native of Bellevue Pennsylvania born in 1865. As a student East studied at the Polytechnic Institute of Pittsburgh and then Atelier Carl Bartberger of Carlsrhue in Germany. He began practicing his career in architecture in his home city for several years and also became the President of The Western Pennsylvania American Institute of Architects.

The next stage in East's architecture practice began when he migrated to Asheville in February of 1912. Here he entered into the community of architects in the area becoming the chief country draftsman. He was also a prominent  member of the Architect's Association of Western North Carolina from its founding in 1926. In 1929 he was also elected President of this organization.

East had a wide range of building materials and techniques in his repertoire, with some buildings he designed in Asheville featuring extensive masonry, while others were mainly tile, concrete, or brick work. His most frequently employed styles of architecture were neo-classical, Romanesque Revival, and Rustic. Only a few of his projects have been positively identified but he seems to have been a prolific designer. With his death in 1936 his obituary claims he had designed and built houses from Ohio to New York state.

http://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000067