Huntington History

In 1909, the Huntington school district undertook the construction of a new building that was promised to be one of the best, modern-built schoolhouses in the state outside of the cities, according to The Long-Islander.

The site of the school, across from Old First Church, had been the center of education in Huntington since the eighteenth century.  The Huntington Academy was built here in 1795.  The Academy was replaced by the three story wood Union School building in 1858.  Thirty years later a primary school (today the west wing of Town Hall) was built.

At a construction cost of $105,000, the new High School building featured accommodations and equipment for laboratory work, manual training and trade school work, drawing and other necessary departments of a modern curriculum.  The new building had a gymnasium, library, and botany room as well as three floors of classrooms and offices, (though the auditorium was not built until 1928). The school had two curriculums: one for those who planned to attend college, and one for those who did not.

In February of 1909, the alumni and other “generously minded citizens” were asked to make donations towards furnishing the new school.  Unfortunately, construction delays prevented the building from opening in time for the September 1909 school term, but by Thanksgiving the building was completed.  A picture of the old Huntington Academy was hung in the new building, and the small bell from the old school house was retrieved from the firehouse, after 50 years of residence there, and was also housed at the new school.  The fire department inscribed the bell with the years it served for fire duty as well as the time it called the children to the old Academy.

The official dedication was held on February 1, 1910 in the new assembly room on the second floor of the building, and was attended by over 600 people.  Gifts from alumni and citizens were received including the furnishing for the gymnasium by Miss Cornelia Prime, (who also donated $5000 to the construction), and a Steinway Piano by Dr. G. H. Carter, and a flag from Ringham & Campbell.  Speeches were made, a history of education in Huntington given, and music was played.  The next morning 380 students walked through the doors for the first time.  The number of students grew until 1958, when it had far exceeded the 600-person capacity.  Overcrowding had become such a problem that yet another new and modern high school was constructed.

The building was then used for the Junior High School grades until 1979.