SOUTHOLD ROTHMAN Family Minded Their Own Business

BY DANNY McCARTHY

DURING COVID-19 while I was on Southold Main Street - I spotted EINSTEIN SQUARE buildings BOTH being on-the-real-estate-market. I am PROUDLY here showing support w/ historical-related findings that have previously been placed here - but now with a bit-of-a-true-update {!}

- HAVE I GOTTA SCOOP FOR YOU -

- I'm spreading the word - INDEED it was an absolute pleasure to have participated in this year's 2021 Southold Village Merchants' Fourth of July Parade - yet again as I have since 1990. I was sure to stop by a certain location after the parade ~ SOUTHOLD GENERAL that is on the left-hand-side within EINSTEIN SQUARE. SOUTHOLD GENERAL. - There's coffee available AND baked goods PLUS {"I Need a Hero"} heroes and ice-cream - {Sounds sort-of-like when B. L. SCOOPS was on the north side of Main Road in Southold.} ~ {Congratulations to TYLER APOSHIAN who WAS a "power-that-be" in Southold General.} ~ https://www.southoldgeneral.co... ~ - EINSTEIN SQUARE will still be owned by the same fellas that purchased the property initially from Ron Rothman. - The former Rothman's Art Gallery located opposite the SOUTHOLD GENERAL building will be undergoing renovations for the time being. -

RON ROTHMAN PERSONALLY responded back to me saying “YES!” knowing that I had wished to salute ROTHMAN’S DEPARTMENT STORE in my own creative and appreciative style -when EINSTEIN SQUARE was beginning.

Daniel Terry was born on February 6, 1827 in Riverhead. He was a skillful blacksmith who learned his trade in Wading River. He came to Southold at the age of 20 and opened a shop where the former Bohack’s was located. His shop locations were frequently moved.

According to information compiled by Frances Booth Petty, Mr. Terry “did not wait long for work to do. Very soon, the excellence of it, his fairness and his desire and ability to accommodate and benefit his customer, brought him more work than he could do alone.” So he hired an apprentice (a journeyman). His career spanned some 50 years. He trained many boys to be expert workmen and good citizens. Indeed he had a great love of horses. One of his horses was a pacer. He was a patron of Southold Academy.

The Daniel Terry House is on the corner of the Main Road and Mechanics Street in Southold. Daniel Terry acquired the land in 1856 and placed the house “end wise and near his east.” A white picket fence surrounded the property. The house passed through so many hands over the years either by purchase or rental and is recorded as having served so many varied purposes to so many varied residents and their owners and, yes, guests. Lawyer Albertson Case d his office above William H. Vail who was living below in that house. Another occupant was Kramer’s Drug Store. Over the years, the celebrated house was turned to the position known today. Now Rothman’s Department Store is on the site and is a fine welcome addition.

Southold Historical Society Guide to Historic Markers which was first published in 1960 carries entries about the DANIEL E. TERRY HOUSE on pages 20-21. I’ll give you just a bit of information from that volume here:

“… Since the time acquired the land in 1856 from Richard L. Peters, the house has passed through more hands over the last 104 years by purchase or rental, and has served for more varied purposes than possibly any other house about. For some years Lawyer Albertson Case, son of Southold historian J. Wickham Case and Sarah Albertson, local historian as well as lawyer, had his office above William H. Vail, living below. A white picket-fence surrounded the place.

When Daniel E. Terry built the house in 1856, he placed it end wise and nearer his east boundary. In 1915-16, Sinclair Smith, living on the east bounding property (which is now that of the North Fork Bank & Trust Co. and home of Dr. Claus H. Robohm), annexed this house and lot to his own, moved and turned the house to the position held today under Dr. Paul Diefenbacher’s ownership.”

SOUTHOLD SPLIA -

{Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities}

According to the Southold SPLIA # SD 59, this building was a Drug Store and Residence. The owner was David Rothman and his building also became not only a Residence and Drug Store but then too a Hardware Store.

Southold SPLIA #59 is also available from the Town of Southold Laserfiche {website} with a colorized photo of the building and the statements that the building was Howells Drug Store and Home/Millard Golder/JAW Drug Store/Rothman Store and House, (ca. 1882).

Rosalind Case Newell …

In the volume Rose Remembers by Rosalind Case Newell, it reads: “In 1924, David Rothman bought the building {the W. H. Terry building} for a general store …”

The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated September 21, 1972 shared:

“Mr. David Rothman celebrated his 76th birthday at a family party at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Levin.”

BOB BERKS CREATED A SCULPTURE OF ALBERT EINSTEIN ...

Tom Wickham was gracious to share time “down on his farm” with me Memorial Day 2016 and it became an article that is one of my linkedin.com posts: Let’s Keep It In The Family! ~ Thanks a Lot! - The Orient Halyoake Farm and The Cutchogue Wickham's Fruit Farm - I'm Taking a Stand on This! Within that post I was able to say this:

“Dan Horton gave a tremendous rundown of information on the Halyoake Farm in the April 8, 2004 Traveler Watchman in his Halyoake: A Self-Sustaining Farm article. Among some of his discussion included the facts he learned from Frank Wippert. Mr. Wippert’s father ‘worked for the Hallocks, making coal deliveries around Orient and managing the stables.’ Frank Wippert shared that he ‘worked at the grading house grading potatoes and onions.’ He remembered when he was a youth that “the tug Water Royal and the steam barge Halyoake were built on the farm.” Mr. Wippert also stated that Halyoake had its own acetylene plant in the early 1900s. George W. Hallock III was the last farmer/owner of Halyoake farm, which ‘lasted until the mid-1950s.’ ‘Sculptor Bob Berks and his wife live in the house that was Hallock’s farmhouse. The ‘cookhouse’ was donated to the Oysterponds Historical Society.’”

SUFFOLK HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS-RELATED CLIPPINGS:

I entered Rothman’s Department Store as keywords within the Search section in that website. I located 296 matches and found such a variety, and was so proud to locate them too - numerous The Long Island Traveler-Watchman weekly classified ads were placed by Rothman’s Department Store for the publication - especially during holiday times.

I have chosen just a handful for this my post to spotlight Rothman’s Department Store!

The Long Island Traveler dated December 30, 1937 had this item:

“The Southold Merchandise Club of the Rothman Department Store, announces the completion of the Club beginning New Year’s Eve.”

RON ROTHMAN

The father of RON ROTHMAN was ROBERT ROTHMAN and the grandfather of RON ROTHMAN was DAVID ROTHMAN!

Here’s some “info” about RON ROTHMAN:

According to The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated September 21, 1972: “Ron Rothman {returned} to Alfred University.”

The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated May 30, 1974 had a photo and caption re:

“TWO MORE TO GO-Southold High’s batter connects in last Wednesday’s victory over Greenport 4-3. If the Settlers can take Miller Place in the last two games on their schedule they’ll walk away with the League Seven title. Photo by Ron Rothman”

The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated June 13, 1974:

A photo appeared in that edition on PAGE TEN: “AT LAST-SUN shone bright and hot last Sunday afternoon. This couple enjoys it all at the mouth of Goose Creek, Southold. Photo by Ron Rothman”

The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman that was dated July 11, 1974 also included a “picture for some thoughts!”

Here’s the caption for the photo that was entered in that July 11, 1974 publication: “THE RACING SEASON at Southold Yacht Club was off to a good start July 4 with entries competing in the Midget, Junior and Senior Division, Craig Osmer, above with his crew of one, captured a thing in the Senior category. Photo by Ron Rothman”

Ron Rothman has ALWAYS been so musically-inclined.: The Long-Islander dated December 28, 1978 has a photo and caption concerning an East End Arts Council event:

Here’s the caption to the photo; “Entertaining Senior Citizens are members of the Huntington, Smithtown, and East End Arts Councils C.E.T.A. six special projects. From left to right are; Jeff Alexander, Smithtown; Ron Rothman , East End [stet}; and Huntington’s Carole Weiner, Nancy Hume and Jill Soboleski, performing an original Christmas show at the Huntington Senior Citizens nutrition enter. The show was scheduled to tour all 16 nutrition centers throughout Suffolk County bringing song, dance, and the holiday spirit, until Jan 5. …’”

RON’s NOT BORED!

SOMETHING’S DEFINITELY ALARMING ABOUT THIS !

HOPEFULLY THE TOWN WILL GET ITS SIGNALS STRAIGHT!

Cyndi Zaweski had this GOVERNMENT-related article within the March 3, 2014 The Suffolk Times titled:

Video: Audible street signal for blind disturbing residents

“The constant beeping of an audible street signal installed to help the visually impaired cross safely at the intersection of Youngs Avenue and Route 25 in Southold is causing headaches for neighbors and business owners. …

… Main Street business owner, and former Town Board candidate, Ron Rothman said: “It’s probably the biggest detriment to the quality of life,” Mr. Rothman said. “This is really unacceptable.”

The sound emitted from the street signal is higher than permitted under town’s noise ordinance, he added. Mr. Rothman said he measured beeping at 80 decibels. Under the town’s code, noise up to 65 decibels is acceptable between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. At other times, noise cannot be louder than 50 decibels.

Mr. Rothman hoped the board could find a way to have the levels of signal sound adjust to the amount of traffic in the area.

‘There must be some other option,’” Mr. Rothman said.

RON HAS BEEN KNOWN TO SAY:

“I’m for agriculture and promoting the businesses that are zoned for this area. It is a good-neighbor policy.”

WOW! WHAT A PLEASURE FOR UPDATES …

December 6th, 2017, The Suffolk Times, featured an article titled “After a century at its Southold location, Rothman’s Department Store is moving on” by Katherine Schroeder.

I have taken “freedom of the press” by placing some of the entries from this Katherine Schroeder article “write below!” …

“Rothman’s Department Store was originally located in the Prince Building across the street. In 1918 David Rothman bought the present location, which included a two-story house where he lived with his family. Above the store is an apartment which once housed the local telephone company, according to Ron Rothman. …

…Rothman sold the structure but {is} not closing the business; he will continue to operate with the same inventory in a similarly sized building he owns next door, just west of Rothman's Department Store."

- ALSO SO MUCH THANKS GOES OUT TO northforkpatch REPORTER LISA FINN -

May 21, 2018, Lisa Finn had this item entered on the northforkpatch website: "New Life For North Fork Building With Ties To Einstein – The goal is to create a 'gem of Southold,' complete with an outdoor space, Einstein Square – a nod to the building’s legacy. - LISA FINN CLARIFIED:

"Southold resident Jonathan Tibett plus and Glenn Heidtmann Jr are the new co-owners of the building who will maintain the building's rich history. ...

... Mr. Tibett said the plan is to re-purpose the building with an eye on the needs of the community today while still remaining rooted in the culture of yesterday. He also said: 'Having so much respect for its 100-year history and knowing how much of Southold's past this building has been part of, we've made it our mission to ensure that it is ready to play a vital role in the next 100 years.'...

... Mr. Heidtmann Jr is a fourth generation contractor who has lived in Southold for more than 40 years. ...

... A marble sculpture depicting Albert Einstein will be sited in the center of the outdoor space, dubbed Einstein Square, 'as an ode to the unlikely friendship of the great scientist and David Rothman that started during the summer of 1939.' ...

... Ron Rothman, said he's moved into the Gallery next door. In its various incarnations, the space he now occupies has been an appliance and bedding store, he noted. ...

... Over the past six months he's moved the guitars and the rest of the store into the new space. ...”

JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IT FOLKS …

I SO DEFINITELY WAS HONORED AND SO PLEASED TO LOCATE THE WEBSITE LINK CARRYING SUCH A TERRIFIC BLOG ABOUT RON ROTHMAN:

https://www.northforknow.org/n...

Here are TWO “RELATED LINKS” TO THIS POST TAKEN FROM THE SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY website - BUT - "I must give credit as credit is due" - ORIGINALLY - While Geoffrey K. Fleming was the Director of the Southold Historical Society - He requested that I join him in composing information re: BENJAMIN BRITTEN as an article for the SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY - and it was on-board the Southold Historical Society website. The link is still available - BUT the bylines have since been omitted. Here is the link to our ORIGINAL-MUTUALLY-COMPOSED Benjamin Britten item - and remember folks - "I am not far from a missing link" :

Benjamin Britten:

https://www.southoldhistoricalsociety.org/benjamin-britten

Here is a direct link from the SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY - re: Albert Einstein:

https://www.southoldhistorical...

I ALSO FEATURED Benjamin Britten within my northforkpatch account later-on - by having done further research:

Another British Invasion - Benjamin Britten | North Fork, NY Patch

ROTHMAN'S DEPARTMENT STORE was such a truly remarkably-historical-making-establishment. - There definitely were such good buys available and what so very often had such unique quality and most were in perfectly-original-form. I personally extend all of my kindest regards to you - RON ROTHMAN. - THANKSALATEE too to Jonathan Tibett - plus - Glenn Heidtmann Jr -&- Tyler Aposhian.

- Who's a Wise-Owl Now {?} -