Legendary Principal’s Office the Epitome of Simplicity
Robert L. Simpson served as principal of Huntington High School for two full decades, from 1930 to June 1950. He was an authoritative figure, but also much beloved by students, teachers and alumni and the greater Huntington community. In fact, he was so well respected that upon his retirement, Huntington School Board members renamed Huntington High School in his honor. The building was known as Robert L. Simpson (R.L. Simpson High School for short) until November 1958 when it was closed upon the opening of a new Huntington High School, located at the intersection of Oakwood and McKay Roads.
After a three year renovation, the former high school reopened in 1961 as Robert L. Simpson Junior High School, with the name staying atop the structure until that building closed in 1976. Today that same Main Street location is the site of Huntington Town Hall.
Mr. Simpson’s austere way of life found its way into the Huntington High School principal’s office. In a 1934 photo, Mr. Simpson can be seen seated at his desk, on which sat two double-decked trays, undoubtedly for incoming and outgoing correspondence, a stack of papers and two telephones, the type found in museums today.
Mr. Simpson’s office is devoid of window treatments, let alone basic shades or blinds. A large institutional looking radiator can be seen beneath one of the two windows, an extra wooden chair is pulled up close alongside the desk and an empty coat rack is in the corner. An area rug partially covered the inexpensive looking wood floor. Such a simple office could probably not be found anywhere today.
Upon Mr. Simpson’s retirement, Robert Cushman was elevated from assistant dean/teacher to the principal’s office, where he remained until his own retirement in June 1968 following a 30-year career in the district.
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