Riter Furniture Co.
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In December 1987, the Riter Furniture Co. at 1921 3rd Ave. was
Destroyed
in a spectacular four-alarm fire that left the Building a smoking ruin,
with only the brick walls standing. Days later, high winds toppled
two walls of the burned-out building.
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HUNTINGTON — David Riter was president of the
Riter Furniture Co. for
more than 40 years before his death in 2002. The store was an integral
part of the city's once-thriving 20th Street business community.
Born in 1920 in Boston, he was the son of Charles and
Celia Riter. The family
soon moved to Huntington, where he graduated from the old Huntington High
School and Marshall College. Later, he earned a master's degree in
retailing from New York University. During World War II, he
served with the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific.
After the war, David and his brother Morry both worked
with their
father at the family furniture store. At first, the store sold used
furniture but ultimately sold only new items.
Morry preceded David in death.
In 1965, the family's store, then located at 1941 3rd
Ave., moved
to a building at 1921 3rd Ave., which had been
occupied by State Electric Supply.
In December 1987, the store was destroyed in a
spectacular four-alarm
fire that left the building a smoking ruin, with only the brick walls
standing. Days later, high winds toppled two
walls of the burned-out building.
In January 1988, Riter Furniture reopened for business
in a former
Star Furniture Co. store building at 1102 3rd Ave. According
to records in the West Virginia Secretary of State's
office, Riter Furniture ceased operation in 2001.
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Note: This Article and picture appeared in the Herald-Dispatch Newspaper on Feb. 12, 2019
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