Huntington Coach

Highly Engaged Employees

The roots of the company's company date all the way back to the 1870's, when Jessie Conklin operated the "Huntington Coach" stagecoach along New York Avenue in Huntington. In 1887, the stagecoach line was replaced by the Huntington Railroad, which stretched from Halesite to Amityville, along what is now Route 110. Founded in 1927 by the Dempsey fam... ily of Huntington, Huntington Coach Corporation began operating as a public transit company, serving the town of Huntington. During World War II, the company transported workers to local factories. In 1953, both Huntington Coach and Hendrickson Bus were purchased by Mr. Howard Schenck, who owned a well known Transit bus company in Floral Park, "Schenck Transportation". Mr. Schenck had enough to worry about with his transit company, and decided to sell the companies, only two years after purchasing them. In November 1955, New York State contacted Mr. Schenck to ask him if it would be alright with the Board of Directors of Huntington Coach Corp if a man named James V. Clifford could start up a transportation business called "Huntington Bus Company". The state was worried that the name was too close, and could cause confusion and impinge on Huntington Coach's name recognition. Mr. Schenck had a better idea. He knew this Mr. Clifford well, as he was once a union officer at Schenck Transportation. He contacted Mr. Clifford, and less than a month later, made a deal to sell both Hendrickson Bus and Huntington Coach to the Clifford family. The sale was completed, and James Clifford became President of both companies on January 17, 1956.Read More