Famous "Witch's Hat" Landmark Restoration Should Be Completed In Time For Halloween

The landmark ”Witch’s Hat” on Main Road in Aquebogue, currently undergoing restoration, should be completed around Halloween.

The Riverhead Landmarks Preservation Commission along with the Save Main Road reservation advocacy group, have been working to restore the structure for about one year now.

According to Richard Wines, Riverhead Town Landmark Preservation chair, the ’cap’ part was totally rotted, shingles were falling and there were holes in the roof of the landmark structure.

He hopes that by Halloween, all of these issues will be fixed through volunteers and donations to bring the building back to it’s original glory.

Many local companies have donated materials and labor for the restoration, including Riverhead Building Supply which donated materials, Clement Carpentry of Jamesport which donated labor, Klatt Sheet Metal in Aquebogue which donated a decorative metal top, Kaiser Maintenance which removed most of the trees around the structure, Gary Hubbard who restored the windows, and Jarrod Hallock who restored part of the roof framing.

The structure was built in 1926 by Henry and Lena Flemming and was originally used to sell ice cream before the time of home freezers, and gas when automobiles were new, according to Wines. In 1987, it was named an official town landmark.