Community Corner
Riverhead History: Osborn Avenue's Name Game
Osborn Avenue, named after a prominent Riverhead family, was misspelled until recently.
What's in a name? Faces certainly. Reputations. Family recognition. Expectant parents peruse books of names looking for just the right first name that goes with their last name. Names are special because they identify us. So no one likes to see their name misspelled.
An early gentlemen in Riverhead was Doctor Thomas Osborn (please note his name did not end with an “e”). His family arrived in Massachusetts from Kent, England and then moved to East Hampton where the family became prominent in the history of that town. Dr. Tom’s father, Thomas G. Osborn, was a graduate of Yale University, practiced law in Cutchogue and served in the New York State Legislature in 1787 and 1788.
Dr. Thomas Osborn served Riverhead as a medical doctor for years, and was in fact the only medical doctor around for quite some time. He served as president of the Suffolk County Medical Society in 1845. Dr. Tom died July 25, 1849 at his home in Riverhead at 70 years and six months of age. His obituary states that he was respected as both a physician and a man.
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Dr. Osborn’s son, Daniel H. Osborn, was also a well-known Riverheader. His popularity caused him to be elected Riverhead Town Supervisor at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. He resigned as Supervisor when he was elected Suffolk County Sheriff. Sheriff Osborn died in 1899. Both Dr. and Sheriff Osborn are buried in the Riverhead cemetery.
Town records show that land owned by Daniel Osborn was situated at the western end of Riverhead (village). The Highway Commissioner was paid for one day’s work “on D. H. Osborn's Road” at one time. When the road was cut north from the King’s Highway (now known as Route 25) through Dr. Osborn’s property it was named Osborn Avenue. Since 1852 this western road has been called Osborn Avenue in honor of the Osborn family.
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Recently, Suffolk County and the media have decided that Dr. Thomas Osborn and Sheriff Daniel Osborn should change the spelling of their name. When the Riverhead Town Historian discovered the spelling error on the Route 58 street signs reading “Osborne” she contacted the Suffolk County Department of Public Works requesting the signs be corrected. Riverhead Highway Superintendent George Woodson made the actual sign corrections. As you travel east or west on Route 58, notice the street signs – with the correct spelling.
The Osborn family did not spell their name with an “e” and you shouldn’t either.
Georgette Case is the Riverhead Town Historian.
