Downtown Likely to Receive National Historical Register Designation

Downtown Riverhead has a lot of history for many residents, but an official designation on the National Register of Historic Places is likely on the way.

Wednesday, a stretch of downtown ranging from Griffing Avenue to just east of Maple Avenue was approved for listing on the New York State Register of Historic Places.

With state approval behind it, the application for Riverhead Main Street Historic District will be forwarded for consideration on the National Register of Historic Places in late May to early June, which one state official said "shouldn't be a problem" following the state approval.

Richard Wines, chairman of Riverhead's Landmarks Preservation Committee, has shepherded the application for approval over a two-year process, with the help of a college intern providing research aid and other volunteers.

In addition to being united by a contiguous assemblage of historical structures, those structures have to be united a theme for Historic Place approval.

"Riverhead was the financial, commercial, and banking center of the East End starting in the 1840s all the way through the middle decades of the 20th century," said Wines. "The area has a lot of historic integrity."

With the designation comes not only the prestige of being able to say downtown Riverhead is on the National Historic Register, but financial gain as well.

Income tax credits are available at the federal and state level - each offering 20 percent - for work exterior done on buildings within the district. Interior credits are available as well for particular projects.

In addition, future grant applications of organizations located downtown, and town-sponsored grants seeking to bolster the area, will be able to say gain extra points for having the historic designation tag.

Town Historian Georgette Case said Riverhead's designation as the county seat played a large role in its historic significance. 

"We had people here in the very early years that brought a lot of people to town," Case said. "Judges, attorneys, people involved in the court system. And then the town grew with businesses as a result. Where else do I go from there?"

The designation would be Riverhead's 10th location on the National Register of Historic Places.