Historic district signs unveiled in downtown Riverhead
Local government officials and business owners unveiled signage along Riverhead’s East Main Street Tuesday morning to mark the newly-recognized downtown historic district, which was added to the National Register last month.
Four Town Council members, downtown Business Improvement District president Ray Pickersgill, The Riverhead Project restaurant owner Dennis McDermott and members of the town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission gathered outside the restaurant to praise the work of the commission in getting the coveted designation for downtown businesses.
The area along East Main Street was added to the National Registry in August, and is now eligible for tax credits.
Twenty signs, paid for by the Riverhead BID, will be posted along the streets, officials said.
The first sign was posted near the building housing The Riverhead Project on East Main Street. The mid-century modern building was built in 1962 and was home to several banks until it was converted into a restaurant in 2011.
“By having signs up people will look around and say ‘Oh wow, this really is historic,’ ” said Landmarks Preservation Commission chairman Richard Wines. “People like history, but they have to see it.”
A brief moment of silence was held before the ceremony to honor all of those, including office workers, police officers, firefighters, first responders and their families, affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that occurred 11 years ago.
