Politics & Government
New Life For Old Riverhead Pump House
The new concession would offer souvenirs and snacks on the nights of concerts and other events in the park.
Riverhead's Old Mill Pump House, located in Grangebel Park, is rich with history.
Built in 1907 to service the first public water district in Riverhead, the pump house was later restored and reopened by Riverhead Town as the cornerstone of the Grangebel Park Restoration Project in 2001.
But on Thursday, the pump house stood empty and littered with trash. Dee Muma, owner of the Dark Horse Restaurant, and former Councilman George Bartunek came before the town board with an empty bottle of grain alcohol they'd found inside.
Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
And that's not all: "We took a walk to the building this morning and what we found for this exhibit wouldn't get past censors," Muma said.
"There was someone asleep in there," Bartunek added.
Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Muma, however, has big plans to breathe new life into one of Riverhead's most memory-laced structures.
The whole premise behind restoring Grangebel Park, Muma said, "was that this is one of the main entryways into town."
Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said the bathrooms have been opened with an eye toward bringing visitors to the park.
Muma said the park is beautiful, and she applauds the idea of the town's park and recreation department planning events such as outdoor concerts.
"The first thing that has to take shape is the pump house," Muma said. "It's a great historic artifact but it needs protection."
The pump house, she added, "can't have people going in when you don't want them to."
And, she said, after the hurricane there was water flowing through the structure higher than the height of the windows; if the windows hadn't been open the building would have been torn off its foundation.
"That's probably the last time it was cleaned," she joked.
Muma said she's been watching the pump house and has a plan to bring new vitality to the site."We're happy you're here and want to do something about it," Counciwoman Jodi Giglio said.
Muma outlined her thoughts, which include adding shutters that lower from the top and hook inside; a double door that can be locked, that will look like wood but is actually metal, would be installed.
"The first step is to secure it," she said. "Step two is to use it."
To that end, Muma said she'd like to operate a type of concession at the site that would be open in conjunction with events scheduled by the parks and recreation department. The pump house would not be a store open daily, but would be available on the nights of events and would offer Riverhead souvenirs, tchotchkes, art, and snacks such as pretzels. The Suffolk County Historical Society has expressed interest in selling its walking tours at the site, she added.
"It would be summer-oriented," she said.
Muma, whose eatery is located across the street, said she would open and close the pump house on event nights.
Lights would keep the building illuminated all night long, she said.
In addition, Muma said she woud bring a water pump that she owns to the pump house. "It would be reminiscent of what was there -- we would recreate an artifact," she said.
A millstone from the Suffolk County Historical Society could also be on display, Bartunek said. "There are all kinds of possibilities to make it an attractive space."
Councilman Jim Wooten said hydropower could be harnessed to provide lights in the park. Giglio said the site would be a great place to bring schoolchildren to educate them on hydropower.
Muma said she would undertake funding for the project, including site improvements herself -- with no contribution required from the town -- and would rent it from the town for $1 per year.
"How could you turn this down?" Councilman John Dunleavy asked.
"I'm in the reconstruction of Riverhead for the long haul," Muma said.
Wooten lamented that the town has poured so much effort and funding into the park. "And yet, it's never taken off."
Muma, said Walter was one of the few property owners in town whom he would not worry about embarking upon such a plan with. "Whatever you would do would far exceed anything I could do."
Deputy Town Attorney Ann Marie Prudenti said the only issue concerned electric; the pump house has electric, town engineer Ken Testa said.
Prudenti said the town would bear the cost of bringing the utilities to the site but after that, it would be self-metered and the responsibility of the licensee.
"THe pump house is something to look at," Dunleavy said. "People don't know it's there."
Signage could be posted along East Main Street, Muma said, directing tourists and visitors to the park and other Riverhead attractions.
Prudenti agreed to draw up a standard five year concession agreement, which could be renewed in another five years as long as the new town board at the time agreed.
"I don't know who wouldn't," Walter said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
