Brewster History

The Brewster Oral History Project

The Brewster Oral History Project is a collection of taped interviews with people who have been part of our town's history. 

The late Roz Gage, for example, shared the adventure begun when she and her husband found a cache of bootlegged whiskey in the sand on Brewster beach. Cathy Kroeger has related stories of her great-great-grandfather's seagoing days in the heyday of the Brewster ship captains. Mary Louise and Ruth Eddy have reminisced about their childhood summers here, where they joined their grandparents before moving to Brewster. 

These are only a few of the interviews you can enjoy by just checking them out. Located in the computer room, the tapes are arranged alphabetically and each one is accompanied by a transcript. They may be checked out as usual at the Circulation Desk. See below for the full catalog of recordings.

We are aware our collection is far from complete. We are looking for additional interviewees who would like to hand down their memories of Brewster throughout the years, and we are also hoping to recruit volunteers who would act as interviewers to help keep those memories alive.


If you would like to become part of the Oral History Project, please call Sue Marcus at 508-896-8228. The rewards: priceless.

 

BREWSTER LADIES’ LIBRARY : ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

 

Acorn, Charles (Recorded June 17, 2001)
Mr. Acorn describes life in Brewster in 1949 when the population was 1,000. He recalls Brewster’s landmarks and local characters.

Ahlstrom, Carl and Fran (Recorded November 9, 1990)
Mr. Ahlstrom discusses the Dillingham House (circa 1660). The house has been in Mr. Ahlstrom’s family for several generations.

Alexander, Harry, with Lawrence Baker and Wynn Dunnells (Recorded May 2, 1964)
Members of the Alewife Committee discuss the history and uses of the Grist Mill, the herring run, and the migration of the alewives.

Allen, Henry (Hank) (Recorded June 13, 2001)
Mr. Allen discusses Brewster history, and people. The interview is primarily related to members of the Cobb family.

Alm, Doris (Recorded October 30, 1989)
Doris recalls traveling by train between Brewster and Orleans. She worked for the town and served on the Board of the Brewster Ladies’ Library.

Babbitt, Walter (Recorded August 26, 1958)
Mr. Babbitt discusses Brewster Sea Captains, Clipper Ships, and the Brewster Historical Committee.

Brewster Conservation Trust (Recorded June 19, 2001)
Members of the Brewster Conservation Trust discuss the Trusts’ mission.

Brooks, Gordon (Recorded March 24, 1994)
Artist and musician Gordon Brooks discusses the founding of the Historical Society/Historic District, his role as painter, teacher and artist drafting cartoons for The Cape Codder newspaper.

Bryan, Cheryl (Recorded January 25, 2000)
Cheryl was Director of the Library from 1983 to 1998. She discusses computer automation and the Library’s expansion.

Burling, Marjorie (Recorded January 18, 2001)
A resident since 1944, Marjorie discusses the National Seashore, the Museum of Natural History and the League of Women Voters.

Chase, Washington (Recorded September 19, 1997)
Mr. Chase discusses the cranberry industry from the time of the Depression through 1997.

Clarke, Jack (Recorded September 19, 2001)
Jack has been a Library volunteer since 1980. He describes the annual book sale and those who contributed to the history and development of the library.

Crocker, Jackson (Recorded May 5, 1991)
The son of a former owner of the Brewster Store, Mr. Crocker recalls what it was like grow up in Brewster during the Depression.

Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence (Recorded January 23, 1990)
Mr. and Mrs. Crocker share memories of the Brewster Ladies’ Library and Lund Farm.

Cummings, Myrtle and Leo (Recorded November 13, 1995)
Mr. Cummings discusses local history, packet and train transportation, school traditions, farming, and life in Brewster during the Depression.

Daley, Dorothea (Recorded January 19, 2000)
Mrs. Daley taught 7th and 8th grade. She tells of the early Brewster schools and taking teachers into her home as boarders.

Dibble, Faith (Recorded May 10, 2001)
Mrs. Dibble recounts life in Brewster Park and discusses how she and her husband purchased the Brewster Store in 1971.

Doyle, Stephen (Recorded March 10. 2000)
Steve tells of Brewster life beginning in the 1950’s. He has held the position of Town Moderator since 1973.

Drake, Joan (Recorded September 10, 1989)
Joan Drake came to Brewster as a summer resident in 1947 and has been a volunteer and board member of the Brewster Ladies’ Library.

Duffy, Lucy (Recorded November 2, 2000)
The daughter of the minister at First Parish Unitarian Church, Lucy discusses the history of the church.

Dugan, Marie (Recorded June 4, 1990)
Marie Dugan came to Brewster from Maine in 1930 and began teaching languages in the high school.

Dunford, Fred (Recorded February 17, 2000)
Mr. Dunford, resident archaeologist of the Museum of Natural History, discusses Wing’s Island and Stony Brook Valley.

Eddy, Mary Louise (Recorded April 16, 1999)
Miss Eddy shares background information about people heard on the tapes Gordon Brooks made on Founders’ Day in 1963.

Eddy, Ruth and Mary Louise (Recorded October 1989)
This interview is primarily related to the history of Brewster Ladies’ Library and the time period during the 1970’s.

Eddy, Ruth and Mary Louse (Recorded April 1997)
Memories of Brewster, from the 1920’s through 1997, fishing, ice making, schools, town government and acquisition of conservation land by the Town is discussed.

Ellis, Hudson (Recorded 1963)
Born in 1881, Mr. Ellis talks about people and places of Brewster including the Grist Mill, Factory Village and the Crosby Mansion.

Ellis, Ted (Recorded July 2001)
Mr. Ellis is the son of former Brewster Ladies’ Librarian, Faythe Ellis. He discusses the Ellis family, how life has changed in Brewster, the Civilian Conservation Corps and town government.

Favreau, Alyce (Recorded February 22, 2001)
Alyce Favreau recounts her connections with Brewster’s various boards and committees.

Finch, Beth (Recorded October 1992)
On Founder’s Day, February 19, 1979, Beth Finch did a presentation describing life in Brewster in 1803 and told the Indian legend of Princess Scargo Lake.

Finch, Bob (Recorded August 15, 1996)
Mr. Finch talks about “Town Ghosts” including ghosts of the Herring Run, Brewster Ladies’ Library and the Legend of Betty’s Curve.

Fitsch, Alice (Recorded July 20, 2000)
Alice Fitsch recalls her memories serving as the Director of the Brewster Ladies’ Library.

Founders Day, February 19, 1963
Gordon Brooks interviews several Brewster residents and discusses their personal memories of the town.

Francis, Janet (Recorded June 15, 1999)
Janet served as a member of the Building Committee and chairperson of the Fundraising Committee for the 1997 addition to the Library. She recalls fundraising for building expansion.

Gage, Jim (Recorded January 23, 2001)
A resident of Brewster since 1927, Mr. Gage tells of life in Brewster through the 1930’s and 1940’s, including historic homes in West Brewster, businesses, schools and ponds (ice-making and hunting).

Gage, Roz (Recorded January 16, 1990)
Mrs. Gage recalls her time on the Board of Directors of the Brewster Ladies’ Library, and tells entertaining stories on such topics as the ill-fated bridge across Paine’s Creek, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Town Hall and discovering bootlegged liquor on the clam flats.

Gage, Roz (Recorded May 9, 1997)
In this second interview, Mrs. Gage tells anecdotes about notable people in town, including Donald Doane (Brewster Store) and Robert Stevenson (Chillingsworth).

Galligan, Judy (Recorded July 12, 1990)
Mrs. Galligan became associated with the Brewster Ladies’ Library in 1970, became a member of the Board, and was involved with the fundraising for the library addition which was completed in 1976.

Graham, Clarence (Recorded January 29, 2001)
In 1944, Mr. Graham began a long association with Camp Wahtonah. In this interview he recounts life at this girls’ summer camp, which was founded in 1915.

Gregson, Charlotte (Recorded October 30, 1989)
A summer resident from the age of 6 months, Mrs. Gregson recollects life and childhood summers in Brewster.

Howe, Mary (Recorded March 29, 2000)
A resident since 1932, Mary talks about old timers including Donald Doane, Walter Babbitt and Harry Alexander.

Hunt, Bernice Hayes (Recorded August 27, 2001)
Author of A While Ago in Brewster, Mrs. Hunt tells of weir fishing, The Wooden Lady, learning to swim, Billlingsgate, and other Cape Cod and Brewster lore since her arrival in 1919.

Keith, Averill (Recorded August 28, 1989)
Averill is a descendant of John Wing and recalls members of his family who have lived in Brewster. He also details colorful town characters and those using the Brewster Ladies’ Library.

Kroeger, Catherine Clark (Recorded October 20, 2000)
A descendant of Isaac Clark, Ms. Kroeger discusses war with the French, the embargo, threats to the Saltworks and the War of 1812. She tells that women in Brewster controlled the town while men were away at sea and that a “church fight” sparked the 1803 Separation of Harwich and Brewster because the men of Harwich had “a different pattern of thinking.” She discusses the Civilian Conservation Corp.

Latham, John (Recorded May 30, 2000)
A descendant of the Wing family, Mr Latham discusses the Sea Pines School, the Civilian Conservation Corp, and bootlegging liquor over the flats.

Lockyer, Dick (Recorded June 12, 1999)
Dick discusses the building and care of Brewster Ladies’ Library.

MacGregor, Helen (Recorded November 14, 1989)
Mrs. MacGregor discusses the Augusta Mayo Manuscript, Captain Jeremiah Mayo and his dealings in France. She also talks about the history of Brewster Ladies’ Library.

Loud, Mary (Recorded November 14, 1989)
Ms. Loud arrived in Brewster in 1906 and remembers the horse-drawn, buggy days.

Martin, Audrey (Recorded August 12, 2000)
Ms. Martin discusses the history of the Sea Pines School and the Bickford family.

MacKenzie, Jane and Suzanne (Recorded April 12, 2000)
Ms. MacKenzie describes the three old houses which she and her husband restored: the Sears House, the Hopkins House and the Newcomb House.

Newell, William (Recorded June 6, 1990)
Mr. Newell served as treasurer of the Brewster Ladies’ Library beginning in 1983 and tells how the computer age changed the library.

Mighill, Marjorie (Recorded June 19, 2000)
Ms. Mighill lived in her grandmother’s house on 6A and Route 124 and recalls many of the people who lived in the houses along Route 6A.

Paine, Joan (Recorded October 17, 2000)
Ms. Paine discusses her role in the design and construction of the Town Flag. She discusses the street lights and the preservation of the Egg.

Pettengill, Ken (Recorded May 1, 2001)
Born in 1926, Mr. Pettengill talks about the old golf course, Latham’s Restaurant, building houses on the beach and the fire towers built by the railroad.

Porter, William H. (Recorded January 30, 2001)
Mr. Porter was appointed chairperson of the Building Committee for the Brewster Ladies Library and saw the building through from design to completion.

Racz, Lois (Recorded January 15, 1990)
Mrs. Racz talks about Brewster Ladies’ Library and raising funds to support it. She discusses the name “Brewster Ladies’ Library” and that the name is kept as a tribute to the ladies who “started” the library. She discusses Eugene Fitsch, the artist who painted the life-size figures of Mayo and Duggan and cookbooks produced by the Library.

Ross, Louise (Recorded February 2, 1990)
A former mail clerk, Ross talks about how the town looked before the building boom. She talks about going beach pluming and working as a volunteer at the Library.

Shovelier, Cy (Recorded 1966)
Cy is a descendant of John Wing and tells that in 1641 Brewster was bounded by Yarmouth on the East around Paines Creek. He tells how the lots of land were divided and discusses the squabbles with local Indians.

Spohr, Betty Baker (Recorded September 24, 2001)
Betty’s ancestry goes back to Isaac Clark. She tells about her father, Sidney Tucker Baker who captained a ship out of New Bedford called the William H. Besse. She tells about life on the Clipper Ships and the coming of the age of steam.

Wilson, Helen (Recorded May 18, 1990)
Mrs. Wilson talks about driving to the Cape, her family and activities in the town.

Williams, Tibby (Recorded May 1990)
Mrs.Williams talks about her time at Brewster Park. She tells about the beach and the seaweed, crabs and fish that wash up upon the shore.