Walter Brewster House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Walter Brewster House
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![]() Front elevation, 2008
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Location | Brewster, NY |
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Nearest city | Danbury, CT |
Area | 2 acres (8,100 m2) |
Built | ca. 1850 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 78001896 |
Added to NRHP | 1978 |
The Walter Brewster House is a historic building in Brewster, New York, United States. It was built around 1850 by Walter Brewster. He was the person who founded the village of Brewster, which is named after him!
The house was built in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast owns and takes care of the house. They use it as a place for events and a cultural center for the community.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Walter Brewster House has two stories. It is made of wood and sits on a strong brick base. The house is on top of a hill, and from the back, you can see downtown Brewster.
One special part of the house is its front porch, called a portico. This porch has four tall columns on each side. These columns are in the Ionic style, which means they have scroll-like shapes at the top. This kind of porch is quite unique for a Greek Revival house in Putnam County. The roof edge also has a fancy design called a dentiled cornice, which looks like a row of small blocks.
Inside, the Walter Brewster House has been carefully fixed up. It has furniture and art that show the rich history of Brewster Village. It also tells the story of Walter Brewster and John Gail Borden, who were important people who lived there. They helped bring jobs and growth to Brewster.
A Look Back at History
Walter Brewster was a descendant of the famous Plymouth Colony family, the Brewsters. He and his brother bought a farm in the area in the mid-1800s. At that time, the New York and Harlem Railroad was building its way north from New York City.
Walter Brewster did more than just build his house. He also helped build a train station, which is called a depot. He even planned out the village's main street and helped start its first hotel. He truly helped create the village we know today as Brewster.
After Walter Brewster, the house had many different owners over the years. In the 1970s, the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast bought the house. They worked hard to fix it up and make it a special place for everyone. Now, it's a cultural center where they hold concerts and other fun events for the community.