Even before it was decided that the site of Henry Hudson Regional School should be on the Trask property high in the hills of Highlands, students at Atlantic Highlands and Highlands schools had recommended such names as Scenic Heights High School, Valley View High School, or Marine View High School.
In the end, it was Thomas Hart who was presented with the $25 Savings Bond for being the first of seven students who came up with the name of explorer Henry Hudson, who set foot on land almost directly between the two boroughs on the Shrewsbury River in 1609.
The newly formed Board of Education with George Reid as president, suggested the contest be held for the students in all three schools in 1959 to come up with a name for the still being planned 7-12 regional school with Highlands. At the time, realtors were even suggesting the school be built in Middletown on Route 36 or other sites because there they said there were no sites large enough in either town to accommodate the school planned for six grades, 7 through 12…and at least 664 students…the number could go as high as 830 if necessary.
A total of 135 students submitted suggestions for a name. These also included Atlantic Coast Regional, Twin Towns Regional, Sandy Hook Bay Regional, Bay Side Regional, Marine View and Mount Mitchill, to name a few.
But when Mary Lou Daust, Bill Mahler, William Mercier, Mark Valetutto, Susan Phillips and Clarence Welch, along with Hart, all came up with the name of the Half Moon explorer, and the Board of Education thought that was the best name , all their names were tossed in a hat and Hart’s name was chosen for the bond. He was a fifth grade student at Atlantic Highlands elementary school.
It all took place in October, 1959, while the board of education was considering 16 acres on East Highland Avenue as the site for the new construction.
The first Henry Hudson Board of Education for the new facility was named by the County Education Commissioner, Earl Garrison, and in addition to Reid, included D. Adolph Busch, Anna Van Note, Dr. Thomas Ahearn and Samuel Brown from Atlantic Highlands, and Bill Feste, George Lahey, Doris Finlay and Alexander Bahrs from Highlands. Tess Horan of Highlands was the first secretary, shortly after, Harold Schaible became the first superintendent of the new regional district.
When the school opened in September, 1962, there were 682 students, 228 in grades 7 and 8, and 454 in grades 9 through 12. The largest class was 9th graders, with 139 enrolled; the smallest class was the graduating class, with 72 students enrolled.
In the end the new school district purchased the Trask property at one of the highest points of land in either borough. They acquired the 28 acres for $31,000.
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