2903 Nichols Boulevard
Robert A. Long High School on September 5, 2005.
Robert A. Long High School, built in 1928, was not the first school in Longview; that honor goes to nearby Kessler Elementary School on the other side of Lake Sacajawea, which opened on February 26, 1924. However, while the original Kessler Elementary was demolished in 1973 and the new version is not very photogenic, R. A. Long High School remains a beautiful building with timeless classic architecture.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
This school was built by R. A. Long on a 35-acre site as yet another of his gifts to the city. R. A. Long High School was built at a cost of $1,532,803. Long spent $750,000 of his own money to build the school, and was forced to mortgage his 15-story office building in Kansas City, Missouri, to obtain the funds.
Robert A. Long High School Cornerstone on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School was designed by noted school architect William B. Ittner.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
The architecture is Georgian Revival, similar to the Longview Public Library and the Monticello Hotel, with two-story Corinthian columns and a clock tower.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
The school was built on less valuable property two blocks away from Lake Sacajawea. The two blocks between the school and the lake were intended to be divided into residential lots, but once the Great Depression hit, the blocks never sold, leaving the school with a view of the lake.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
The school was dedicated on July 13, 1928, and opened to classes in the fall of 1929. Until then, classes were held in the dormitories of the St. Helens Inn and the Kessler Grade School.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
Clarence Zimmerman was the school’s first principal. The first enrollment was 82, with a faculty of 7. For the second term the student body increased to 197 students.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
The class of 1928 was the first to officially graduate from the R. A. Long, but the class of 1929 was the first to complete a full school year in the building.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
By 1952, the enrollment had increased to nearly 1,400 students. In September 1953, Monticello Junior High School opened and the 9th grade moved there from R. A. Long.
Robert A. Long High School, May 5, 2012.
In 1957, Mark Morris High School opened, dividing Longview’s high school population.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
In 1970, a new math-science wing and gymnasium annex were built at R. A. Long at a cost of $2,305,320.
Robert A. Long High School Lobby on May 5, 2012.
This is the main lobby of Robert A. Long High School.
“Eighty Years of Excellence” on May 5, 2012.
This painting in the lobby is called “Eighty Years of Excellence” by Barbara Lancaster and was a gift from the class of 2008.
Robert A. Long High School Lobby Clock on May 5, 2012.
During the 1983-1984 school year, classes were held in classrooms and portables at Monticello Middle School while R. A. Long underwent a $12 million renovation.
Bust of Robert A. Long by Larry Anderson on May 5, 2012.
The renovation was designed by Seifert & Forbes as architects and engineers with Gilnett Construction Company as the general contractor. It reopened in the fall of 1984.
Bust of Robert A. Long by Larry Anderson on May 5, 2012.
A bronze sculpture of a young R. A. Long at age 23 by Larry Anderson was donated by the R. A. Long Foundation and placed in the front hall in 1985.
Bust of Robert A. Long by Larry Anderson on May 5, 2012.
R. A. Long High School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 5, 1985.
Robert A. Long High School Auditorium on May 5, 2012.
The Robert A. Long High School auditorium features seating for 900.
Robert A. Long High School Auditorium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Auditorium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Library on May 5, 2012.
The Robert A. Long High School Library is in the front of the second floor, overlooking Lake Sacajawea.
Robert A. Long High School Library Ceiling on May 5, 2012.
The library originally accommodated 200 students at small tables, with a raised librarian’s desk in the center, a barrel-vaulted ceiling, and bookshelves built into the Douglas fir wainscoting.
Robert A. Long High School Library on May 5, 2012.
The library currently features two large paintings: a portrait of R. A. Long and another painting called “The Dream” by Robert Wadsworth Grafton, which depicts Long in the doorway of his original lumberyard in Columbus, Kansas, with a vision of the city of Longview. The R.A. Long High School Alumni Association funded restoration of the portrait in 2004 and “The Dream” in 2005.
Portrait of Robert A. Long on May 5, 2012.
“The Dream” by Robert Wadsworth Grafton on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Hallway on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Tilework on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Yearbooks on May 5, 2012.
For a number of years, Robert A. Long High School’s yearbooks had covers made of real wood as shown here.
Robert A. Long High School Whacker on May 5, 2012.
Two of these were made by Ralph Dexter in the carpenter shop for football coach Buck Hammer; this one was stolen.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
The Cafeteria is at the back of the original school.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
The interior of the 600-seat cafeteria was designed to give the appearance of an old English manor house, with an open-timbered roof, heavy Douglas fir beams, high wood wainscoting and rough plaster. The kitchen was entirely electrically equipped when built.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Cafeteria Light on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Lumberjack on May 5, 2012.
This lumberjack sculpture in the cafeteria was donated by the Leadership Class of 2003-2004. The plaque carried the inscription “Making R.A. Long High School Better, One Lumberjack At A Time.”
Robert A. Long High School Boiler Building on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
A new $100,000 gymnasium with swimming pool was started in November 1938, and was built with funding from the Federal Works Agency and the Public Works Administration. The new basketball court was dedicated on December 16, 1940, and the team defeated Hoquiam in their first home appearance of the year.
Robert A. Long High School Gymnasium on May 5, 2012.
Statues of a lumberjack and lumberjill stand in the gymnasium.
Robert A. Long High School Weight Room on May 5, 2012.
The former Swimming Pool is now a Weight Room.
Robert A. Long High School Weight Room on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Weight Room on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School Racquetball Court on May 5, 2012.
This storage room was originally a racquetball court.
Robert A. Long High School Athletic Field on May 5, 2012.
The athletic field was dedicated at a football game on September 18, 1930. The track was resurfaced in 1973 with a new nine-lane all-weather track.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
Robert A. Long High School on May 5, 2012.
Related Links:
R. A. Long High School at the Cowlitz County Parcel Search
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Excellent presentation of R A Long High School history.
ReplyDeleteThanks Duaine, Nice to see others are getting involved with out history.
ReplyDeleteTonight was the first time I had ever been in the school. I was only in the gymnasium. I liked the wood seating and decided to look up some info on the history of the school. Beautiful pictures of a reallly neat school. Thanks for sharing.
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