Brewster, New York

The village of Brewster derives its name from that of the landowner, Walter Brewster, who invited the New York and Harlem Railroad to build a depot on his property in 1848. Brewster's Station, New York (sometimes just "Brewster's"), appeared on maps,[http://www.westchesterarchives.com/CW/images/WCHS/Atlas_1867/Title%20_page_resize.jpg Beers 1867 Atlas] "Atlas of New York and Vicinity from Actual Surveys by and Under the Direction of F. W. Beers, A. D. Ellis and G. G. Soule, New York 1867" on postcards, and in directories of Putnam County throughout the second half of the 19th century. It was officially incorporated as the Village of Brewster, New York, in 1894.

In 1886, historian William Smith Pelletreau published The History of Putnam County, New York. In his second chapter on the town of Southeast, he wrote: "The land now [1886] embraced within the limits of the village of Brewster consists of a farm which was sold by the commissioners of forfeiture to Peleg Bailey, in 1781. A portion of it afterward passed into the possession of Bailey Howes, his grandson, who sold 98 acres to Gilbert Bailey on April 1, 1833. Two other tracts containing 39 acres were sold to Gilbert Bailey, by William P. Downs and Frederick Parks in 1838. On February 17, 1848, Gilbert Bailey sold the whole tracts, estimated at 134 acres, to James and Walter F. Brewster, for the sum of $8,000."The History of Putnam County, New York. 1886. Reprinted by the Landmarks Preservation Committee of the Southeast Museum, Brewster, New York, 1975.

"At the time of the purchase, the New York and Harlem Railroad was finished and trains were running as far as Croton Falls. The road was surveyed as far as Pawling, and the prospect of its being continued to that point seemed certain, and to the new purchasers of the farm it seemed just the place for a station."

"The New York and Harlem Railroad was finished to this place and the depot was built in that year, and what is now [1886] the Main street was opened, for the purpose of allowing the stages from Danbury to come to the station. Previous to this the firm of Crosby and DeForest had run a line of four horse stages to Croton Falls, from Danbury. The first new house in the place was built by Walter F. Brewster, in 1850 and stood in front of the present [1886] Methodist church." That house, now listed as the Walter Brewster House on the New York State and national historic registers, is owned by the Landmark Preservation Society of Southeast.

"The Harlem Railroad's extension of its mileage in 1849 proved advantageous to Mr. Brewster, who needed all sorts of materials in his building activities. Large shipments were billed simply to 'Brewster's Station' for lack of better designation. This is the apparent origin of the village's name, which many years ago was shortened to Brewster."

Jonathan F. Frost was the first Postmaster of the Brewster's Station post office, which operated from October 25, 1850, through April 28, 1883.New York Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmaster from 1775 to 1980 by John L. Kay and Chester M. Smith Jr., American Philatelic Society, 1982

During this period in American history, post offices were frequently located in the stores or businesses owned by the individuals who served as postmasters. This held true in the village of Brewster for the next century.

In 1863, the Brewster Station post office relocated to the A.F. Lobdell General Store, across from the railroad station, the present location of the Avery Building at 12–18 Main Street. Alexander F. Lobdell, the store's proprietor, was appointed postmaster by President Abraham Lincoln and was reappointed by Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur, continuing as Brewster's postmaster until 1887.The Town of Southeast 1788–1988 Edited by Suzanne F. Truran, John J. Dunford, Priscilla A. Truran – Published by the Town of Southeast, 1990 The Brewster post office began operation on April 28, 1883, removing the word "Station" in its identity and postmarks.

In 1887, the post office relocated to the Brewster Standard building, the present location of the Sprague Building at 31 Main Street. In 1886, Emerson W. Addis, publisher of the Brewster Standard weekly newspaper, became the postmaster and held that position until 1916.

In 1916, the post office moved to new quarters on Park Street, between Main Street and Marvin Avenue, into the Rundall Building, and John Thorp became the new postmaster.

In 1923, Ralph Diehl, proprietor of the Brewster Bakery, became postmaster, and the post office was moved to his baking plant on Progress Street in 1927. Howard Tuttle later became the postmaster, holding the position until 1934 when Seth Howes was appointed. In 1936, the post office relocated to the building now occupied by the Eagle Eye Thrift Shop at 65 Main Street.

Mr. Howes held the office until 1958 when John F. Larkin Jr. was made acting postmaster. He was later promoted to the full title of postmaster.

On July 17, 1966, the post office relocated to a new brick building on Main Street, where it remained for the next three decades. Mr. Larkin retired in 1972 and was succeeded by Earl Tuttle, who became the last Southeast resident to hold the position of postmaster since that time. Mr. Tuttle retired in 1985.

The new facility was the first Brewster post office to occupy a space that was specifically designed for the purpose, rather than being retrofitted from some previous use. It had a separate lobby to house post office boxes, a loading dock at the rear of the building and a postal inspector's separate entrance and hallway with one-way glass for observing postal workers and the public.

In the mid-1990s, the Main Street facility closed and a new post office opened at its present location at 3 Mount Ebo Road North outside the village limits in the town of Southeast. Although the new facility is more than {{convert|3|mi|0}} from the center of Brewster, it still retains the designation and postmark "Brewster 10509".

File:Brewster NY from Metro North.JPG

Before 1962, there were several local post offices throughout the town of Southeast, located near larger concentrations of residences and businesses. The last of these, Southeast's Putnam Lake post office, closed in 1968. When a new post office opened at 16 Main Street in Brewster on July 17, 1966, even before Interstate 84 and Interstate 684 were constructed, it was named Brewster and given the zip code 10509.

File:Multi-family century home, Brewster, New York.jpg

Urban renewal plans for the Village of Brewster have been in the works for well over a decade. In 2011, a blight determination study was conducted to identify primary contributors to the community's decline and determine potential redevelopment strategies. The study revealed that 15% of the properties in the surveyed area were considered blighted.{{cite web|title=Village of Brewster Blight Determination Study|publisher=Village of Brewster, NY|date=November 2011|url=http://www.brewstervillage-ny.gov/images/stories/pdfs/information/Final_112211.pdf|access-date=December 5, 2024}} These findings prompted a transit-focused redevelopment plan, targeting five distinct subareas in need of improvement.{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/southeast/details-brewsters-urban-renewal-project-revealed|title=Details on Brewster's Urban Renewal Project Revealed|last=Taliaferro|first=Lanning|date=January 12, 2017|website=Patch.com|publisher=Patch Media|access-date=December 5, 2024}} The primary objectives of the plan are to transform underused and/or deteriorating properties into spaces for retail and housing, thereby generating economic activity and supporting the use of the Metro-North Brewster train station.{{cite web|title=Urban Renewal Plan for the Brewster Urban Renewal Area|publisher=Village of Brewster, NY|date=April 2016|url=https://brewstervillage-ny.gov/images/edocman/urban-renewal-plan/Urban_Renewal_Plan_Adopted_5-18-2016.pdf|access-date=December 5, 2024}} The project, officially dubbed Brewster Crossing, has garnered support from many local residents.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/realestate/article/Village-of-Brewster-eyes-downtown-redevelopment-16621988.php|title=Village of Brewster seeks to attract NYC commuters with downtown redevelopment|last=Callahan|first=Cloey|date=November 16, 2021|website=Times-Union|publisher=Hearst Media|access-date=December 5, 2024}} However, it has also been met with resistance from others, as it requires the acquisition & clearance of properties that are neither underused nor deteriorating. Long-standing food establishment, Bob's Diner, is one of many businesses slated for demolition.{{cite web|url=https://hudsonvalleypost.com/beloved-new-york-diner-known-for-helping-hudson-valley-may-be-forced-to-close/|title=Beloved New York Diner Known For Helping Hudson Valley May Be Forced To Close|last=Welber|first=Bobby|date=December 2, 2022|website=Hudson Valley Post|publisher=Townsquare Media|access-date=December 5, 2024}} Other notable properties impacted include the Jack & Jill Pool Hall and A.F. Lobdell estate (c. 1860), in addition to other Victorian-era buildings.{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/picture-gallery/news/2022/02/07/brewsters-downtown-could-major-changes/6634597001/|title=Brewster's downtown could be in for major changes|last=Becerra Jr.|first=Frank|date=February 7, 2022|website=LoHud.com|publisher=The Journal News|access-date=December 5, 2024}} The anticipated completion date is set for 2027.{{cite web|url=https://www.putnampresstimes.com/post/brewster-revitalization-revived|title=Brewster Revitalization Revived|last=Alcott|first=John|date=November 28, 2023|website=Putnam County Times|publisher=Putnam County Press|access-date=December 5, 2024}}

File:Chondrodite-Magnetite-37952.jpg and black magnetite from the old Tilly Foster Mine in Brewster]]

Brewster is located along the East Branch of the Croton River at {{Coord|41|23|46|N|73|36|57|W|type:city}} (41.396050, −73.615954),{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} near the center of the town of Southeast.

U.S. Route 6 runs through the village as its Main Street. U.S. Route 202 and New York State Route 22 run concurrently along the southern boundary of the village, and Interstate 84 passes just east of the village, intersecting Interstate 684. The Brewster train station is on the Harlem Line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|1.5|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

{{US Census population

|1860= 176

|1900= 1192

|1910= 1296

|1920= 859

|1930= 1664

|1940= 1863

|1950= 1810

|1960= 1714

|1970= 1638

|1980= 1650

|1990= 1566

|2000= 2162

|2010= 2390

|2020= 2508

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2020, there were 2,508 people residing in Brewster. There were 701 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,851.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 55.98% Hispanic or Latino, 36.61% non-Hispanic white, 2.59% African American, .42% Native American, 3.22% Asian, .04% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races.

• Brewster Central School District
• Brewster High School
• Henry H. Wells Middle School
• C. V. Starr Intermediate School
• John F. Kennedy Elementary School
• Private schools
• Longview School
• Saint Lawrence O'Toole

• Governor Kathy Hochul since 2021{{cite web|title=Official New York web site |url=http://www.governor.ny.gov/ |access-date=21 December 2013}}
• US Senator Charles Schumer since 1999{{cite web|title=Official New York government web site|url=http://www.ny.gov/congress_delegation}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand since 2009{{cite web|title=Official New York Congressional Representatives|url=http://www.ny.gov/congress_delegation.html|access-date=21 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230110324/http://www.ny.gov/congress_delegation.html|archive-date=30 December 2013}}
• US Congressman Mike Lawler since 2023{{cite web|title=Congressman Maloney Official Website|url=http://seanmaloney.house.gov|access-date=21 December 2013}}
• NY State Senator Peter Harckham since 2019{{cite web|title=State Senator Murphy|url=http://www.nysenate.gov/senators/terrence-murphy}}
• NY State Assemblyman Matt Slater since 2023
• Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne since 2022
• Putnam County Legislator Paul E. Jonke (District 6) since 2017{{cite web |last1=Auchterlonie |first1=Tom |title=Jonke Wins Open Putnam Legislative Seat; Albano, Sullivan Cruise To Wins |url=https://putnam.dailyvoice.com/politics/jonke-wins-open-putnam-legislative-seat-albano-sullivan-cruise-to-wins/688296/ |website=Putnam Daily Voice |date=November 9, 2016 |access-date=10 November 2018}}
• Putnam County Legislator Joseph F. Castellano (District 7) since 2013{{cite web|title=Putnum County Officials|url=http://www.putnamcountyny.com/legi/legislators/|access-date=21 December 2013}}
• Mayor James Schoenig Since 2007{{cite web|title=Brewster Web Site|url=http://www.brewstervillage-ny.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=110|access-date=21 December 2013}}
• Village Trustees: Christine Piccini, George Gaspar, Tom Boissonnault, Mary Bryde{{cite web |title=Elected Officials |url=http://www.brewstervillage-ny.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=110 |website=Village o Brewster |access-date=10 November 2018}}

• Mclain Ward (born 1975), equestrian{{Cite web |date=2017-04-06 |title=This Equestrian Facility Is GORGEOUS – Home To Olympic Champion McLain Ward – The Horseaholic |url=https://thehorseaholic.com/this-equestrian-facility-is-gorgeous-home-to-olympic-champion-mclain-ward/ |access-date=2023-01-14 }}
• Shayna Levy (born 1997), Israeli soccer player{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/southeast/brewster-s-shayna-levy-named-co-defender-week|title=Brewster's Shayna Levy Named Co-Defender of the Week|date=2018-10-22|website=Southeast-Brewster, New York Patch|access-date=2020-03-27}}

• Billy Jones (1889–1940), singer
• Marian Anderson (1897–1993), contralto singer{{Cite news |date=1958-05-22 |title=Brewster Tour To Visit Homes Of Celebrities; Benefit May 31 Lists Residences of Marian Anderson, Rex Stout |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/05/22/archives/brewster-tour-to-visit-homes-of-celebrities-benefit-may-31-lists.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |issn=0362-4331}}
• Glenda Farrell (1904–1971), actress{{Cite web |date=2018-05-07 |title=Glenda Farrell |url=https://hometownstohollywood.com/oklahoma/glenda-farrell/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Hometowns to Hollywood }}
• Herbert Gehr (1910–1983), American TV director and photographer{{Cite news |date=1950-07-11 |title=WIFE SEEKING DATA FOR DIVORCE KILLED; Mrs. Herbert Gehr Is Shot to Death as She Knocks at Door of Brewster Cabin (Published 1950) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/11/archives/wife-seeking-data-for-divorce-killed-mrs-herbert-gehr-is-shot-to.html |access-date=2023-08-04}}
• Donald Symington (1925–2013), actor{{Cite web |title=DONALD SYMINGTON Obituary (2013) – New York, NY – New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/donald-symington-obituary?id=24005814 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Legacy.com}}
• Ava Fabian (born 1962), model and actress{{Cite web|url=https://www.greensboro.com/roxy-carmichael-features-ex-playmate/article_7903ac0a-085b-5482-b6da-9e123f6aace5.html|title='ROXY CARMICHAEL' FEATURES EX-PLAYMATE|date=1990-10-20|website=Greensboro News and Record|access-date=2020-03-27}}
• Joe Rubbo (born 1963), actor and TV producer
• Michael Imperioli (born 1966), actor, screenwriter, TV producer and musician{{Cite news|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-2000-08-27-3318769-story.html|title=MICHAEL IMPERIOLI IS WELL-SUITED FOR HIS ROLE ON 'THE SOPRANOS'|date=2000-08-27|work=The Morning Call|access-date=2021-12-30}}

• Fanny Crosby (1820–1915), hymnodist, blind activist and minister{{Cite web |title=Fanny Crosby Birthplace Historical Marker – Adventures Around Putnam |date=October 22, 2017 |url=https://www.adventuresaroundputnam.com/2017/10/22/fanny-crosby-birthplace-historical-marker/ |access-date=2023-01-13 }}
• Max Dreyfus (1874–1964), music publisher and songwriter{{Cite news |date=1964-05-16 |title=Max Dreyfus, Music Publisher Who Headed Chappell, 90, Dies |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/05/16/archives/max-dreyfus-music-publisher-who-headed-chappell-90-dies.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |issn=0362-4331}}
• Edith Diehl (1876–1953), bookbinder and author{{Cite web |title=Bookbinding: its background and technique. · Grolier Club Exhibitions |url=https://grolierclub.omeka.net/items/show/134 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=grolierclub.omeka.net}}
• Chester Beach (1881–1956), sculptor{{Cite web |title=Beach, Chester, 1881–1956 – Social Networks and Archival Context |url=https://snaccooperative.org/view/20974215 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=snaccooperative.org}}
• Rex Stout (1886–1975), writer{{Cite web |title=Rex Stout, Activist, Family Man, Author, & a person with many interests |url=https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/stout/home_life.htm |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.nerowolfe.org}}
• Trude Fleischmann (1895–1990), photographer
• Pola Stout (1902–1984), designer{{Cite web |title=About Rex and Pola Stout – Index of Names & Places |date=March 13, 2022 |url=https://www.ismardavidarchive.org/indexofnames/about-rex-and-pola-stout/ |access-date=2023-01-14 }}
• Dorothy Fields (1905–1974), lyricist and librettist{{Cite web |title=Fields, Dorothy (1904–1974) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/fields-dorothy-1904-1974 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}
• John Bernard Myers (1920–1987), art dealer and writer{{Cite web |title=John Bernard Myers papers {{!}} Collection {{!}} search=f=online_visual_material:true&s=4240&n=10&t=C&q=*:*&i=4243 {{!}} SOVA |url=https://sova.si.edu/record/AAA.myerjohn?f=online_visual_material:true&s=4240&n=10&t=C&q=*:*&i=4243 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=sova.si.edu}}
• [https://debellefeuille.com/artist/laliberte-norman/ Norman Laliberté] (1925–2021), artist{{Cite journal |title='Studio show' in Ossining|date=1971-09-16 |journal=Patent Trader|location=Mount Kisco, New York|url=https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83008557/1971-09-16/ed-1/seq-39/ |page=39 |issn=0746-1836}}
• Joanne Dobson (born 1942), novelist

• Charles F. Murphy (1875–1934), politician, lawyer and former NY State Senator
• Willis H. Stephens (1925–2024), politician
• Bob Perciasepe (born 1951), environmental policy leader
• Willis Stephens (born 1955), politician{{Cite web |last3=NEWS-TIMES |first3=Fred Lucas THE |date=2006-07-10 |title=Trash invades N.Y. politics |url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Trash-invades-N-Y-politics-232667.php |access-date=2020-03-27 |website=NewsTimes}}

• Evelyn Irons (1900–2000), journalist{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |date=2000-04-30 |title=Evelyn Irons, War Reporter, Is Dead at 99 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/30/nyregion/evelyn-irons-war-reporter-is-dead-at-99.html |access-date=2020-03-27 |issn=0362-4331}}
• Diana Vreeland (1903–1989), fashion editor{{Cite magazine |date=2011-07-14 |title=The Cult of Diana |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1993/11/diana-vreeland-199311 |access-date=2023-01-14 |magazine=Vanity Fair }}

===Sports Coaches===

• Ed Farrell (born 1934), American football coach
• Chris Palmer (born 1949), American football coach{{Cite web |date=2006-01-31 |title=Cowboys hire Palmer |url=https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Cowboys-hire-Palmer-85305.php |access-date=2020-03-27 |website=Alton Telegraph}}
• Kevin Leighton (born 1979), American baseball coach and former player{{Cite web |date=2011-07-19 |title=Kevin Leighton Named Head Baseball Coach |url=https://news.fordham.edu/athletics/kevin-leighton-named-head-baseball-coach-2/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Fordham Newsroom }}

• Enoch Crosby (1750–1835), American spy and soldier {{Cite web |last=Bear |first=Rob |date=2013-01-16 |title=Compound Built by Revolutionary War Spy, Listed for $1.4M |url=https://archive.curbed.com/2013/1/16/10284874/compound-built-by-revolutionary-war-spy-listed-for-14m |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Curbed }}
• John McCloy (1875–1945), Lieutenant commander and a United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient{{Cite web |title=John McCloy {{!}} Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz) {{!}} U.S. Navy {{!}} Medal of Honor Recipient |url=https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/john-mccloy-1 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Congressional Medal of Honor Society }}

• C.V. Starr(1892-1968), Founder of AIG group{{Cite web |title=New York Lore: Two More Tales of Brewster Urban Legends |url=https://www.brewsterbearfacts.com/news/community-news/new-york-lore-two-more-tales-of-brewster-urban-legends/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Brewster Bear Facts}}

Brewster is the fiction hometown of the leading character (Ann Marie) in the American television sitcom That Girl. Ann is played by Marlo Thomas. She moves from Brewster to New York City.{{cite web | url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/that-girl | title=That Girl | date=October 22, 2017 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/11/realestate/l-that-girl-955487.html | title='That Girl' | work=The New York Times | date=January 11, 1987 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Brewster, New York}}

{{Wikivoyage|Brewster (New York)}}

• [http://www.brewstervillage-ny.gov/ Village website]
• [http://www.brewsterschools.org/ Brewster Central School District]
• [http://www.brewsterchamber.com/ Brewster Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.bef.org/ Brewster Education Foundation]
• [http://www.brewsterfiredepartment.org/ Brewster Fire Department]
• [http://www.brewsterlibrary.org/ Brewster Public Library]
• [http://www.SoutheastMuseum.org Southeast Museum]

{{Putnam County, New York}}

{{New York}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Villages in Putnam County, New York