In the document at left dated 1771, Southampton Town Trustees answered the need to build a school for local area children. We don’t know how soon after this document the school was actually built, and we have no photos of that building, but logic says that if there was a need for a school building, then a classroom was already in session nearby.  Our conclusion then, is that the first school classes in this area were most likely held around 1771 in the Meeting House mentioned in this document. The Meeting House sat just west of the Presbyterian Church located next to the cemetery on Montauk Highway at “Beaver Dam” (now Westhampton).

That first school building was built at Beaver Dam in about 1815-16 for a cost of $145.81. In 1856 the wooden building was replaced with the brick schoolhouse shown here, on the same site.

Then in the late 1800s another school was built on Montauk Highway in Westhampton to serve students living further west of this area. Known as the Tanners Neck School, it was located roughly across from the West Methodist Church.  The building still exists and is now a private home. The original schoolhouse structure was added on to and renovated over the years, yet it can still be found within the home’s core. A few residents of the Tanners Neck area still remember attending this school.

The first schoolhouse within the limits of the Village of Westhampton Beach was located just north of Main Street, on Potunk Lane. Unfortunately we have no photos of that building.

Next came the “Red School” from 1861 to 1888, located on Main Street approximately across from The Patio Restaurant. This photo shows a very well dressed group of children, considering that this was a farming and fishing community. Having your photo taken was a serious event in those days.

Then in 1880 an even larger building was erected on Mill Road to house the growing student body. It sat on the north side of Mill Road between Sunset Avenue and Woodland Avenue. This building was later moved to Church Street and Mill Road and became the home and office for our local Dr. Merle.  This building is still lived in by members of the Merle family.

The Union School, aka “Six Corners” School (on Mill Road at the intersection with School Street, Oak Street, Potunk Lane and Brook Road), was initially a wooden structure, built in 1902-03, and originally held classes up to 8th Grade.  After 8th Grade students had to travel to Patchogue or other points west to attend high school.

Later this building housed Kindergarten through 12th Grade after it was added on to several times. The additions were of brick with tall stately columns decorating the rear of the building. Eventually the entire building became brick as renovations were made. 

By 1938 classes were being held in several buildings throughout the community while the new High School was being built at the intersection of Mill Road and Oneck Lane and further renovations to the Six Corners School were underway. When the infamous 1938 Hurricane hit the area some students (fourth grade) were taking classes in Mechanics Hall on Mill Road and Sunset Avenue, some classes were being held at the Beach Methodist Church, some were at Parlato’s Garage, and some were at the Main Street Apartment Building.  Yet there were still about 200 students in this building.  They were dismissed and sent home after the windows blew out – just in time – reports were that the building took in nearly 5 feet of water!

The Westhampton Beach High School (now in use as the Junior High School) was built in 1938-1940. This beautiful building, complete with handsome cupola, was the pride of the Village. During WWII the cupola proved quite useful too. Community members took turns in this “watchtower” watching the skies for enemy aircraft as well as the seas for any signs of submarines.

By 1959, another school was needed and the Elementary School on Mill Road and Oneck Lane was designed by architect George Dippell. It is still being used today, although several additions were made along the way.  Three classrooms, a science lab, library and media space, a new gym and new athletic fields were added in 1997, eight classrooms were added in 2005, and athletic fields were improved, new fields added, and parking improved in 2007.

In 1965 a new and very modern High School was constructed on Lilac Road. This new school, designed for 1,000 students, initially held classes for Grades 7 through 12.  At that point, the old High School became the Middle School with Grades 5 and 6.

When enrollment became too much for the Middle School building, a beautiful two-story addition, including a new gym and music suite, a new cafeteria and kitchen, and four new extra large classrooms, was added in 2007.  Three new athletic fields were also constructed in 2007. The new construction perfectly matches the original brickwork design.

One major addition was built onto the High School in 2005 and included 15 new classrooms, a beautiful fully-equipped 800-seat auditorium, improvements to guidance offices, student services rooms, two new large group instruction rooms, and enlarged parking facilities.

It is almost certain that the future will bring still more changes to the school buildings in this growing Village.