Volunteers Come Together to Save The Witch's Hat

Volunteers hoping to preserve a piece of North Fork history came together Saturday to clean up the Witch's Hat in Aquebogue.

According to its Facebook page, Save Main Road has undertaken a project to restore the "unique and cherished Aquebogue landmark. We’re working with the property owner, local contractors and building materials suppliers to craft a practicable plan."

Goals include stabilizing the structure and returning it to its former glory. For more information on the project, click here. 

Donations are 100 percent tax deductible and a generous matching grant will double initial contributions, Georgette Keller of the Save Main Road civic organization said.
 
For months, an effort has been underway to breathe new life into the crumbling icon, located on Route 25 near the Aquebogue Veterinary Hospital.

Volunteers have been asked to step up, especially those with experience in spraying poison ivy, tree removal, and carpentry.

Both Riverhead and North Fork 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 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.

The town's landmarks preservation commission has had the Witch's Hat "on their watch list for years," said 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 is also involved, Keller said; the commission, she said, will offer guidance moving forward.

"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.

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."

To contact Georgette Keller and volunteer, call 631-722-4520 or e- mail georgette@ savemainroad.org.

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