Riverhead Gives us a Taste of History.

11/24/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of The North Fork cares about the community, especially when your property has an issue. Call us today.

Enjoy Life in Riverhead and Celebrate the Beauty of its Surroundings

The Peconic River hosts Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York. Northeast of New York City and accessible via ferry from Connecticut, the town serves as the home of a large cohort of Polish immigrants and their families. Mostly agricultural, Riverhead also features beaches where avid boaters and fishermen can gain access year-round.

The history of Riverhead is rich and reflects the growth of our nation. European settlers purchased the area from Native Americans in 1649, and more was added with the purchase of land from Col. William Smith. The town of Riverhead became a reality in 1792 within the context of the American Revolution. It is the county seat of Suffolk County, and most of its footprint is on water. The Long Island Railroad serves as does Suffolk County Transit and the Hampton Jitney.

This picturesque small town lets you travel back in history as you visit its downtown and historical sites. The Hallockville Museum Farm, for example, is a non-profit organization listed on the National Register of Historic Places committed to take visitors back to Long Island’s farming roots and project them onto our lives today. The Hallock family occupied the homestead for most of the 1800s until 1979 when Ella Hallock moved out at age 95. It is precisely along Sound Avenue that Eastern European immigrants settled and became an active part of the community.

The Polish Town Street Fair and Festival began in 1975 as a fundraiser for the Polish Town Civic Association. Although it was canceled in 2020, Riverhead residents and its neighboring towns look forward to polka music and pierogies each August. They also look forward to crowning a Miss Polish Town USA each year. Heritage is not the only thing the town celebrates. Also a yearly tradition in June, the Mattituck Lions Club celebrates an annual Strawberry Festival, which serves as a fundraiser and congregates vendors, live entertainment, and the traditional strawberry shortcake eating contest. The Festival’s grand finale is a firework show late into the night. Proceeds from the Festival aid organizations such as the Boy Scouts, the Peconic Bay Medical Center, the Mattituck Jazz Band, and several educational initiatives.

Not far from Riverhead, its residents can enjoy the yearly Greenport Dances in the Park series. 

Also canceled in 2020, it is due to return in 2021 for hours of fun and dancing for young and old alike. Typically held most Mondays during the summer, each music performance is designed to bring enjoyment to its spectators and get them on their feet dancing in no time! Concerts are held at Mitchell Park, and patrons are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket or chairs along with snacks.

Now that the weather is turning colder, and the health crisis has limited some of the events we traditionally celebrate, we should be thankful that the Long Island Aquarium, right here on Riverhead, is open! Indoor and outdoor exhibits make this an ideal attraction for those craving learning and entertaining. Although many programs occur throughout the day, visitors can also explore at their leisure and learn about animals in the Amazon Rainforest, turtles, and seahorses. Some new guidelines are in place. The facility is operating at a limited capacity, but making a reservation online is simple to do, and the staff is ready to welcome you in a safe environment.

Fishing in Riverhead

The Peconic River is excellent for fishing whether you venture out in a boat or choose to fish from the dock. After recent renovations, the town’s marina offers picnic tables and a great space for families to enjoy time together. Here’s what to expect when fishing in our town-

• You can charter a boat at the dock and traverse the Peconic River
• Be on the lookout for the Annual Snapper Tournament after Labor Day and get the whole family involved in it.
• Fishing in Riverhead can provide an excellent tableau to learn about conservation and the environment by practicing catch and release and tag and release.
• The River is calm even when the weather is rough, allowing avid anglers to enjoy fishing despite most weather events.

Those visitors and residents who find themselves in need of the intensity of a big city can venture to New York City for an escapade. By hopping on the Long Island Railroad or in your car, you can arrive in the heart of Manhattan for a day of enjoyment. Alternatively, you can head up to Connecticut by driving over to the Orient Point ferry station, taking the scenic boat ride into New London, and traversing the beautiful landscapes through the state and into its northern neighbors. Some claim this is the easiest way to go from deep within Long Island to Boston.

Protecting Your Riverhead Home

As weather events seem to represent a risk year-round for Riverhead homes, homeowners need to be mindful of how restoration services can help mitigate their losses. A strong storm may be the catalyst for water to come through a window or roof, just like it can cause floodwater to enter your home. Whatever the consequence, SERVPRO is here to help.

Not all disasters come from Mother Nature, though, and fire damage can be caused by ourselves. A kitchen fire, a space heater, or an aromatic candle can be the culprit of flames in your home and the ensuing smoke and soot. Enlisting a professional team such as ours helps the restoration process be more efficient and thorough. In the course of our work, we address the tangible and intangible remnants of a home fire, including the acrid smell it leaves behind.

SERVPRO of The North Fork is available 24/7 to tend to your emergency, and we do so with the latest in technology. Call us at (631) 591-3771 as soon as you detect the issue, and let us do what we do best. With our assistance, your home will look and feel, “Like it never even happened.”