| Brewster | |
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| — Village — | |
| Red Chondrodite and black Magnetite from the old Tilly Foster Mine in Brewster | |
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Brewster
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Putnam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) |
| • Land | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 2,162 |
| • Density | 4,544.0/sq mi (1,754.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 10509 |
| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-08070 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0944699 |
| Website | www.brewstervillage-ny.gov |
Brewster is a village within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. Its population was 2,162 at the 2000 census. The village is the most densely populated portion of the town. The village is named for two early farmer landowners, Walter and James Brewster.[1]
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Brewster is located at (41.396050, -73.615954)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), all of its land.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,122 people residing in Brewster. There were 701 housing units at an average density of 1,851.6 per square mile (708.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.10% of the population, 78.77% White, 5.37% African American, 0.37% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 11.66% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races.
The households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the village the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 41.4% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 131.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $42,750, and the median income for a family was $48,393. Males had a median income of $28,793 versus $28,929 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,865. About 9.0% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
The name of the Village of Brewster evolved from the surname of its founder, Walter Brewster and the New York and Harlem Railroad depot he invited to his property. Brewster's Station, New York, (sometimes just "Brewster's" ) appeared on maps,[4] on postcards and in directories of Putnam County, New York State throughout the second half of the 19th century. Although referred to as a village since it formed in 1849, it 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, New York, 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, April 1st 1833. Two other tracts containing 39 acres were sold to Gilbert Bailey, by William P. Downs and Frederick Parks in 1838. On the 17th of February, 1848, Gilbert Bailey sold the whole tracts, estimated at 134 acres, to James and Walter F. Brewster, for the sum of $8,000."[5]
"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."[5]
"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."[5] 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."[1]
Jonathan F. Frost was the first Postmaster of the “Brewster's Station” post office, which operated from Oct. 25, 1850 through April 28, 1883.[6]
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.[7] The “Brewster” post office” began operation April 28, 1883 removing the word “Station” in its identity and postmarks.[6]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[7]
The new facility was the first Brewster post office to occupy a space that was specifically designed for the purpose, rather than being retrofit 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 in the Town of Southeast. Although the new facility is more than three miles (5 km) from the Village of Brewster, it still retains the designation and postmark “Brewster 10509.”
The print, radio and television media, many highway travelers, local passersby and even some residents mistakenly believe Brewster the name of Putnam County's most southeastern township. In fact, the Town of Southeast contains the Village of Brewster, though each of those municipalities have independent governments, separate highway departments and separate courts.
The railroad station in downtown Brewster was owned by the New York Central, Conrail, Penn Central and now Metro North Railroad, but it has always been “Brewster Station” because it is located in the Village of Brewster. Since 1849, rail customers coming to Southeast only knew they were travelling to “Brewster.” Over time, the name Southeast was all but forgotten.
The new depot that was built in Southeast, just a quarter mile north of the village was first named "Brewster North Station." That second depot has since been renamed “Southeast Station.”
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.[6] When a new post office opened at 16 Main Street in the Village on July 17, 1966,[7] even before Interstate 84 and Interstate 684 were constructed, it was named Brewster and given the zip code 10509.[6] The two highways brought massive population increases, nearly tripling the number of residents in Southeast in a matter of about 20 years. As a result, "Brewster, NY 10509" was part of the return address of every resident of Southeast and Brewster. Probably because of the proximity to Brewster train station, the highway exit signs of I-84 and I-684 say “Brewster” although none actually exit onto roads in the Village of Brewster - all exit to roads in the Town of Southeast. Road signs in White Plains, Danbury, Carmel and other nearby towns all direct travelers to Brewster. Only the town's "Welcome to Southeast" signs acknowledge the town's existence.
The post office has relocated out of the village and removed “Brewster” from the building. It is still 10509 but does not have the name of the municipality on its exterior of the building. Residents who live in the town still use "Brewster 10509" for their return address and the post office still uses "Brewster" rather than "Southeast" in its postmarks.
Brewster's land area is less than a half square mile[8] while the Town of Southeast covers more than 32 square miles (83 km2).[9] Brewster is urban… Southeast is suburban. Brewster is walkable… Southeast is not. Brewster has about 2,000 residents… [8] Southeast has about 18,000.[9] Despite these distinctions, the press, media, businesses and, most importantly, the residents still choose to use "Brewster" as the name of the town in the south eastern corner of Putnam County.
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