Civic Group Teams Up To Save 'The Witch's Hat'

Aquebogue residents have a wealth of shared memories of the Witch's Hat, an iconic roadside stand on the south side of Route 25 where vegetables and pies were once sold.

The iconic structure, which resembles a witch's hat, is a town-designated landmark, but has seen better days, its exterior crumbling and in dire need of repair.

Now, members of the Save Main Road civic group are teaming up to breathe new life into the structure, and preserve it for future generations.

The town's landmark landmarks preservation commission has had the Witch's Hat "on their watch list for years," said Georgette Keller, a founder of the Save Main Road group.

According to Keller, Dr. Richard Hanusch of the Aquebogue Veterinary Hospital, owner of the parcel and the Witch's Hat, was quoted "a ridiculous price" to renovate the structure.

"He wants to see it preserved, and not moved," Keller said.

Keller said she volunteered the Save Main Road group to spearhead an effort "to gather volunteers, organize actions and otherwise oversee the renovation as a community project."

Richard Wines of the landmarks preservation commission will also be involved, Keller said; the commission, she said, will offer guidance moving forward.

Wines explained that a recent historic resource survey of Main Road gave a history of the Witch's Hat: The structure was built Harry Fleming in 1927-28. The 1920 federal census shows Flemming living in Brooklyn with his wife Lena and her German-born mother-in-law.

Flemming, Wines said, was an immigrant from England and worked as a machinist in a machine shop. 

The 1930 federal census shows Lena  living on the Main Road in Aquebogue with her sister Mary Westenberger.  "Apparently Henry had died, as Lena is the head of the household," Wines said. "Her occupation is listed as 'owner, candy and cigarette store.' This was apparently a little retirement project for the Flemmings."

Originally, the roadside stand was a gas pump, which provided the main income, but they also sold candy, tobacco and in time ice cream, Wines said. Later it was used to sell landscape shrubs, he added.

The building has been unoccupied since before 1970, although the former vet who previously owned the veterinary clinic on the property re-glazed the windows and restored the exterior about the time it was designated as a town landmark in 1987.

"Also know as the 'lighthouse,' this structure has served as a real landmark for travelers on Main Road for many years," Wines said.

Keller said the vet who currently owns the property wants to save the Witch's Hat, too. "Dr. Hanusch never knew what to do either -- he's a vet, not a builder -- but he wants to be a good steward of the historical icon," Keller said.

Keller will be announcing a call for volunteers for the projects at Saturday's civic and Save Main Road meeting, to be held at 10 a.m. at the Jamesport Meetinghouse.

Residents have long held the Witch's Hat close to their hearts as an important piece of their collective North Fork history and shared memories.

"One thing I'd like to see preserved and restored is the 'Witch's Hat' building on the south side of the road in Aquebogue," wrote Jim, a Patch reader. "I remember seeing this ever since I was a kid -- I'm now 65 -- and I still enjoy seeing this unique little building hunkering by the road side. It's on private property, I assume, and I don't know what its original use was, but it is certainly unique and is now in danger of falling down, by the looks of it. To lose this 'North Fork Duck' would be a shame." 

What memories do you have of the Witch's Hat? Would you like to see it preserved?