Preston and Howell Houses

428 & 420 East Main Street

1905

Narrator: Henry H. Preston (1845-1919), voiced by Nate Kalich

Hello, this is Henry H. Preston. I built this beautiful house back in 1905.

Let me tell you a little about myself and how I came to Riverhead. I grew up on Shelter Island. When I was 16, I volunteered for the Union army near the beginning of the Civil War. I joined the Sixth New York Volunteer Calvary. I served mostly under General Phil Sheridan, on many of his well-known exploits. I certainly saw lots of action. At one point, even though I was only a sergeant, I had to command an entire company after all the officers were either killed or incapacitated. Unfortunately, just a few hours before the surrender at Appomattox, I was shot in both legs. The wounds never really healed, and many years later one leg had to be amputated. There’s even a monument to me and a plaza named after me in front of the Shelter Island police office.

After the war, I returned to Shelter Island, serving in various political offices and building my businesses until I was elected in 1902 as the first salaried Sheriff of Suffolk County. I moved to Riverhead then to be near the County Courthouse. I was also in the insurance business, served as a town assessor and became a trustee of the Riverhead Savings Bank.

In 1905, just as I was finishing my term as Suffolk County Sheriff, I decided to build us a new house in Riverhead. Mrs. Ostrander was subdividing her estate in this part of Riverhead. They had just opened up Ostrander Avenue through the middle of it. Riverhead’s leading citizens started building beautiful houses there.

I grabbed the corner lot for $1,100. Can’t even remember who I hired as an architect, but he sure did design me a handsome house, don’t you think?

My good friend B. Frank Howell, who was a bank president and served three terms as town supervisor, built a beautiful house right next door.

This row of houses was so spectacular that several postcards were made of it. Everyone called them “handsome.” Someone even scribbled on this postcard that this was “a new type of modern house.” Yes, we were definitely modern!

I must say that I am so pleased to know that both my house and Frankie Howell’s house next door have been beautifully restored. In fact, we can step inside for a great meal now. Won’t you join me?