HomeMy WebLinkAboutSouthold Historical Society - The Prince Bldg � X
Southold Town Preservation Award
Presented To -
Southold Historical Society
For The Restoration and Preservation of The Prince Building
Landm Preservation Commission
Presented this
• 31st Day of May J ,
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1994 Southo d Town Supervisor
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The Henry W. Prince Building
Ninety years ago, two young, Southold Civil War veterans, who were friends, Henry W.
Prince and G. Frank Hommel, built two attached brick stores with spacious upstairs living quar-
ters under one roof. The boundary line of their properties lay under the center of the dividing
wall. Henry W. Princes General Store, on the east side, thrived and grew as did his family and his
business interests. In 1900 Henry was also a distributor for Long Island Gaselene Lamps. He
placed one in front of the store and it "lit up the whole business section" of Southold. That year
he bought the other half of the property from his friend.
The red-brick store on Main Road has housed a myriad of businesses, which when listed
by themselves tell a story of a developing American community. The list includes, general store,
oyster "saloon", post office, Southold , Peconic and Cutchogue's first Telephone Exchange, furni-
ture Store, Grange Hall, fraternal meeting hall, office supply store, clothing store, shoe store,
restaurant, TV repair shop, copy center and finally Southold Historical Society's headquarters.
In 1989, with donated funds, the Southold Historical Society purchased the red brick
building and in short time restored its facade by reconstructing the long open porch in keeping
with the history and period of the building and creating a spirit of openness to the community.
Windows, roof,plumbing, heating, and many other repairs were a reaction to the need at the mo-
ment. With Henry Prince's original sign reinstalled overhead, the double store held the historical
society's office and historical archives in one side and its museum shop in the other.
In 1994, by the grace of a generous gift from the estate of a deceased member plus the un-
limited dedication of its leadership and volunteers, the historical society accomplished an "impos-
sible dream" for the Prince Building.
Following the gutting of the second floor, a steel beam raised the floor and strengthened
the building structurally. The second floor, with new lighting, heating, plumbing, air conditioning,
partitioning, stair lift, decorations etc., provides space and proper conditions for archives preser-
vation and artifact storage.
Below in the west store is the society's office, its computers and a reception area for visi-
tors. The west store is the renovated Museum Shop, which will display furniture and artifacts that
otherwise might have been kept in storage.
With the recent care and changes, the Prince Building is now preserved as an authentic
part of Southold's streetscape as it was in 1874.
Because of their number; it would be virtually impossible to recognize all of the individu-
als who made this happen. Therefore the Southold Historical Society and its leadership deserve
the community's recognitiop and gratitude for keeping The Prince Building a living part of
Southold history.
It is with great pleasure that the Southold Town Landmark Commission presents this
Preservation Award to an organization that so well espouses the highest ideals of preservation.
Four the Commission.
"'John A. Stack, Chairman
May 31, 1994