Corwin-Katz House

12 First Street

Narrator: Rose Katz (1891-1978), Jewish immigrant from Hungary, voiced by Jenifer Maxson

Hello. I am Rose Katz. This house at 12 First Street was our home for many years. Max and I were both immigrants from Hungary. When I arrived in New York City in 1906, I was just twenty and spoke only Yiddish. Like so many other Jewish immigrants, I started as a sewing machine operator in the garment industry. But I managed to graduate from the Ethel Traphagen School of Commercial Art in Manhattan and became a highly successful clothing designer. My husband Max was in the wholesale side of the business.

We wanted to go into business for ourselves, so we moved out to Riverhead and opened a women’s clothing store. We called it the Rose Shop, using my name, since it was really my taste and talents that made it successful. At first, we operated in the Lee Building, where the County Review was published. But later we moved to this cute little building at 19 East Main Street next to the J.J. Sullivan Hotel. Yes, I could tell you some tales about Mr. Sullivan and that place! But, I will save you for now.

At the Rose Shop, we prided ourselves on carrying a full line of the smartest ladies’ wearing apparel for all ages, from the tiniest tot to her dignified grandma. I was proud to be one of the few women running stores in downtown Riverhead. We had lots of loyal customers.

We bought this house a little while later. It is the oldest on First Street. People here tell me that it was probably built in the 1840s by Henry W. Corwin, a master builder who was responsible for the Riverhead Methodist Church and other notable local structures.

As often happened with carpenters building homes for themselves, he appears to have lavished unusually fine and up-to-date details on this house. As a designer myself, I really appreciated all those details. I’m sure he wanted to show off his talents.

Do you see that pointed window with pointed shutters, up in the gable? They tell me that’s actually a simplified version of the Gothic Revival style popular from 1830 to 1860 that traced its origin to the great cathedrals I remember from the old country.

And do you see those lovely moldings under the eaves. They are called “bead and reel” moldings, a detail borrowed directly from ancient Greek and Roman antecedents. Corwin had to cut those moldings entirely by hand, can you imagine?

Anyway, enough about our house. I just wish you could stop by my beautiful shop. It was a really special place.