Brewster is a village and the principal settlement within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 2,508 at the 2020 census. The village, which is the most densely populated portion of the county, was named for two early farmer landowners, Walter and James Brewster, who donated land for the Brewster railroad station in 1848.

History

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, 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."

"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."

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 Brewster post office began operation on April 28, 1883, removing the word "Station" in its identity and postmarks. These findings prompted a transit-focused redevelopment plan, targeting five distinct subareas in need of improvement. 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. The project, officially dubbed Brewster Crossing, has garnered support from many local residents. 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. Other notable properties impacted include the Jack & Jill Pool Hall and A.F. Lobdell estate (c. 1860), in addition to other Victorian-era buildings. The anticipated completion date is set for 2027.

Geography

thumb|Red [[chondrodite and black magnetite from the old Tilly Foster Mine in Brewster]]

Brewster is located along the East Branch of the Croton River at (41.396050, −73.615954), 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 , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Brewster had a population of 2,508. The median age was 35.3 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 139.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 137.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 885 households in Brewster, of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.4% were married-couple households, 32.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The city is represented in the U.S. Senate by Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Scuhmer and by Peter Harckham and Matt Slater in the New York State Legislature. James Schoenig has been the city's mayor since 2007.

  • Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne since 2022
  • Putnam County Legislator Paul E. Jonke (District 6) since 2017
  • Putnam County Legislator Joseph F. Castellano (District 7) since 2013
  • Village Trustees: Christine Piccini, George Gaspar, Tom Boissonnault, Mary Bryde

Notable people

Athletes

  • Mclain Ward (born 1975), equestrian
  • Shayna Levy (born 1997), Israeli soccer player

Entertainers

  • Billy Jones (1889–1940), singer
  • Marian Anderson (1897–1993), contralto singer
  • Glenda Farrell (1904–1971), actress
  • Herbert Gehr (1910–1983), American TV director and photographer
  • Donald Symington (1925–2013), actor
  • Ava Fabian (born 1962), model and actress
  • Joe Rubbo (born 1963), actor and TV producer
  • Michael Imperioli (born 1966), actor, screenwriter, TV producer and musician

Writers and artists

  • Fanny Crosby (1820–1915), hymnodist, blind activist and minister
  • Max Dreyfus (1874–1964), music publisher and songwriter
  • Edith Diehl (1876–1953), bookbinder and author
  • Chester Beach (1881–1956), sculptor
  • Rex Stout (1886–1975), writer
  • Trude Fleischmann (1895–1990), photographer
  • Pola Stout (1902–1984), designer
  • Dorothy Fields (1905–1974), lyricist and librettist
  • John Bernard Myers (1920–1987), art dealer and writer
  • Norman Laliberté (1925–2021), artist
  • Joanne Dobson (born 1942), novelist

Political Figures

  • 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

Media Personalities

  • Evelyn Irons (1900–2000), journalist
  • Diana Vreeland (1903–1989), fashion editor

Sports Coaches

  • Ed Farrell (born 1934), American football coach
  • Chris Palmer (born 1949), American football coach
  • Kevin Leighton (born 1979), American baseball coach and former player

Military Figures

  • Enoch Crosby (1750–1835), American spy and soldier
  • John McCloy (1875–1945), Lieutenant commander and a United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Business Figure

  • C.V. Starr(1892-1968), Founder of AIG group

Brewster is the 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.

Portrait photographs of Bruce Springsteen, to accompany his album Nebraska, were shot by photographer David Michael Kennedy at his family home in Brewster, NY, in June 1982. Only one photograph from that shoot was used in the final Nebraska package; however, a broader selection was published by Springsteen as press resources to accompany the release of the Nebraska ‘82: Expanded Edition in October 2025.

References

  • Village website
  • Brewster Central School District
  • Brewster Chamber of Commerce
  • Brewster Education Foundation
  • Brewster Fire Department
  • Brewster Public Library
  • Southeast Museum