Plans Underway to Honor Longtime Educator Jack Abrams
Teacher, administrator, mentor, friend and founder of Huntington UFSD’s School Heritage Museum, Jack Abrams wore many hats over the years, always contributing in one way or the other to the rich traditions and history cherished across the district.
Remembering Station School on School Street
Long before the phrase urban renewal found its way into America’s lexicon, the Huntington School District erected a four room school on School Street in Huntington Station. The structure, built in 1906 for $6,500, was Huntington Station’s first school.
Happy Birthday Huntington Schools
A few years after the town was settled a group of community members came together to hire Jonas Holdsworth as the first school teacher in Huntington. Given a four year contract, he commenced class on February 11, 1657 in a private home. Huntington UFSD traces its origins to that day, 364 years ago.
H-ton Hall of Fame Mat Coach Lou Giani Passes Away
Lou Giani’s love affair with wrestling began as a junior at Robert L. Simpson High School as Huntington High School was then known. On the horsehair filled mats in that dusty old room in the building’s basement, the sport took hold in the teenager’s life, propelling him to the 1960 Olympics and a National Wrestling Hall of Fame coaching career.
The Rock at Huntington High School
The Rock at Huntington High School has been the canvas upon which students and community members have painted heartfelt messages for decades. Located on the corner of Holdsworth Drive and the northern entrance to the campus, the large rock most likely originated in the New England area. It was dragged down to Long Island during the Ice Age and left here when the Earth’s temperatures warmed and the ice melted and gradually retreated to the north.
The Birth of Huntington Boys’ Cross Country
The Huntington High School boys’ cross country program was first organized in the fall of 1923 by physical education director W.H. Grigson. That year he took several members of the team to the 11th Annual Columbia University Cross Country Race at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. They competed for the Gutavus T. Kirby Trophy.
Huntington High School Pride is a Long Tradition
Pride. Huntington High School students have always possessed it in abundance. It was evident even a century ago and probably decades earlier, too.
The Roots of Huntington’s Blue Devil Mascot
It has crossed many minds, but there have been few answers. Until now. How did Huntington High School happened to acquire its distinctive Blue Devil nickname and logo, with its piercing eyes and formidable horns?
Huntington UFSD School Heritage Museum Seeks Artifacts
Once a piece of history is tossed into a garbage can it’s usually lost forever. Brian Hansen doesn’t want that to happen to any Huntington School District related artifact. So send the curator of the School Heritage Museum a message first and he’ll be a happy man.
Legendary Blue Devil Gridiron Coach Passes Away
Legendary Huntington High School football coach Joseph Lucey has passed away. He was 91 and residing in East Quogue.
Remembering Nathan Hale School
Faced with growing enrollment just a few years after it opened Woodbury Avenue School and Lincoln Elementary School, the Huntington School District decided to erect a stately looking brick building on Bay Avenue in 1928. Named after Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, the school served children from the Halesite and Huntington Bay areas.
Huntington UFSD Legend Jack Abrams Passes Away
Legendary teacher and principal Jack Abrams, who founded Huntington UFSD’s School Heritage Museum to preserve artifacts and share the history of the district and later became an essential component of that same history has passed away.
Remembering Huntington’s Math Club
Long before there was a national Math Honor Society chapter at Huntington High School there was a math club called Sigma Mu. It was formed in 1926 “by a group of students who desired to advance farther into mathematics than what the school offers,” according to the 1931 yearbook.
Huntington’s NHS Chapter Founded in 1954
The Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society at Huntington High School was organized in 1954. It will celebrate its 65th induction ceremony this fall.
Huntington Drama Club’s Origins Date to 1928
Dozens of students are expected to be involved in this year’s drama club at Huntington High School. Since it was founded, the club has entertained tens of thousands and produced well over a hundred plays. Now entering its tenth decade, the interest in an organized club devoted to acting and stage production has never been stronger.
Free Exchange of Ideas is a Huntington Tradition
Encouraging the free exchange of ideas and thoroughly debating and discussing positions on every side of any issue has always been one of the hallmarks of the well-rounded education provided to youth studying in the Huntington School District.
Tracing the Origins of Huntington’s Math Honor Society
Huntington High School’s Nathan Hale chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the National Math Honor Society will induct 41 new members during a ceremony next Monday night. The scholarly organization’s historical roots run deep, stretching back more than 90 years.
School Heritage Museum Seeks Donations of Artifacts
Once a piece of history is tossed into a garbage can it’s usually lost forever. Brian Hansen doesn’t want that to happen to any Huntington School District related artifact. So send the curator of the School Heritage Museum a message first and he’ll be a happy man.
Unraveling a Huntington UFSD Mystery
With a history stretching back 360 years, the Huntington School District has its fair share of mysteries. Unraveling them and discovering what really happened takes time and plenty of research. Some of the stories have happy endings and others don’t. This one doesn’t.
Southdown School’s Yellowbird Sculpture Stands Tall
Surrounded by flowers and plants, a large gold-plated sculpture sits serenely along the main walkway near the entrance to Southdown Primary School. It’s been there for more than 40 years, but few, if any, of the hundreds who pass it by each day have any idea of who it honors or why it’s there.
Huntington’s Long History of High School Education
Since 48 leading citizens came together in 1793 and pledged the funds needed to erect a school building devoted to providing the young people of the community with a classical high school education, Huntington has been on the cutting edge of classroom instruction and has been sending its graduates to the top colleges in the country and into every career field imaginable.
Jefferson School’s Proud History Dates to 1962
Sensing the need to add another elementary school to meet the needs of a growing community, the Huntington School District purchased an eight acre tract of land on Oakwood Road more than 56 years ago and in 1961-62 erected what would later be named Jefferson School, in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence.
The Year the Whale Came to Huntington
Huntington schools have been known to close for snow storms, ice storms, hurricanes and similar calamities, but because of a beached whale? It happened; it really happened.
Retired Finley AP Frank DeGraff Passes Away
Frank DeGraff was an affable fellow who students and faculty colleagues took a liking to. After serving a stretch as a math teacher, he spent the last 19 years of his career as the assistant principal at J. Taylor Finley Junior High School before retiring in June 1984. He recently passed away at 90 years old.
Retired Huntington PE Teacher & Lax Coach Passes Away
One of Huntington High School’s greatest coaches ever passed away suddenly last week. Aaron Littman, who taught physical education over parts of five decades and won three Suffolk titles and the 1975 Long Island championship as head coach of the Blue Devil boys’ lacrosse team was 79 years old.
Retired Principal Edward Abrahamson Passes Away
Retired Huntington School District teacher and principal Edward Abrahamson passed away on November 15. He was 86.
Former Jefferson School Colleagues Celebrate at Reunion
Nearly three dozen former Jefferson School colleagues recently held a reunion, bringing back many fond memories for members of the group.
H-ton Equestrienne Club a Relic from a Bygone Era
Huntington, like the rest of Long Island and the world, was a very different place in the 1930’s. It was the era of the Great Depression, of legions of unemployed, of storm clouds forming over Europe and of bread lines even on Main Street. It was also a simpler time when the local high school was the center of the universe for many teenagers and their families. It was a time of Friday night bonfires in Heckscher Park, social events in the school cafeteria and auditorium and an annual five-day senior trip to Washington, D.C.
Team Photo is Startling When Viewed Today
It’s certainly a startling photo when viewed today. Huntington High School students and their faculty advisor on the front steps of the building holding rifles.
