Walter Brewster House
Encyclopedia
The Walter Brewster House is located on Oak Street in Brewster
, New York
, United States
. It was built in the Greek Revival
style
around 1850 by Brewster, who founded the village that today bears his name.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980. Currently it is owned and operated by the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast
as a cultural center.
structure sits on a brick
foundation
atop a hill overlooking downtown Brewster to the rear. Four Ionic
column
s on each side support the portico
, which juts out some distance from the house proper, the only such arrangement on a Greek Revival house in Putnam County
. It has a dentil
ed cornice
.
On the first floor, the original central-hall plan typical of Greek Revival buildings has been largely obliterated by many different owners' renovation efforts. It is currently one large open space, with the original staircase moved to the northeast corner. The upstairs is more intact, with some of the original decoration
remaining, and the original mantel
still in each room.
Brewsters
, bought a farm along with his brother and settled in the area around the mid-19th century. The New York and Harlem Railroad
was working its way north from New York City, and he not only built a depot
, he laid out the village's Main Street and helped found its first hotel.
After numerous owners, who did not appreciate its historical importance, the building became the property of the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast
in the 1970s. The society renovated it and made it a cultural center, hosting concert
s and special events. Mrs Fitchen died in 2009 but thanks to her hard work, the building that defines Brewster lives on.
Brewster, New York
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...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was built in the Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
around 1850 by Brewster, who founded the village that today bears his name.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980. Currently it is owned and operated by the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
as a cultural center.
Building
The two-story frameFraming (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
structure sits on a brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
foundation
Foundation (architecture)
A foundation is the lowest and supporting layer of a structure. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.-Shallow foundations:...
atop a hill overlooking downtown Brewster to the rear. Four Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s on each side support the portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, which juts out some distance from the house proper, the only such arrangement on a Greek Revival house in Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
. It has a dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
ed cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
.
On the first floor, the original central-hall plan typical of Greek Revival buildings has been largely obliterated by many different owners' renovation efforts. It is currently one large open space, with the original staircase moved to the northeast corner. The upstairs is more intact, with some of the original decoration
Ornament (architecture)
In architecture and decorative art, ornament is a decoration used to embellish parts of a building or object. Large figurative elements such as monumental sculpture and their equivalents in decorative art are excluded from the term; most ornament does not include human figures, and if present they...
remaining, and the original mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
still in each room.
History
Brewster, a descendant of the Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
Brewsters
William Brewster (Pilgrim)
Elder William Brewster was a Mayflower passenger and a Pilgrim colonist leader and preacher.-Origins:Brewster was probably born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, circa 1566/1567, although no birth records have been found, and died at Plymouth, Massachusetts on April 10, 1644 around 9- or 10pm...
, bought a farm along with his brother and settled in the area around the mid-19th century. The New York and Harlem Railroad
New York and Harlem Railroad
The New York and Harlem Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States, and possibly also the world's first street railway. Designed by John Stephenson, it was opened in stages between 1832 and 1852 between Lower Manhattan to and beyond Harlem...
was working its way north from New York City, and he not only built a depot
Brewster (Metro-North station)
The Brewster Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Brewster, New York via the Harlem Line. It is the southernmost station in Putnam County. Trains leave for New York City every hour, and about every 25 minutes during rush hour...
, he laid out the village's Main Street and helped found its first hotel.
After numerous owners, who did not appreciate its historical importance, the building became the property of the Landmarks Preservation Society of Southeast
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
in the 1970s. The society renovated it and made it a cultural center, hosting concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s and special events. Mrs Fitchen died in 2009 but thanks to her hard work, the building that defines Brewster lives on.