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BREWSTER SURVEY PLAN 2016
BREWSTER HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Brewster Survey Plan 2016 Brewster Historical Commission
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Brewster Historical Commission and their preservation consultant would like to thank the people and
organizations in Brewster who provided assistance in preparing this Survey Plan. Appreciation goes, in
particular, to David H. Tately, MAA, Deputy Assessor.
The Brewster Historical Commission would also like to acknowledge and thank the Town of Brewster
Community Preservation Act Program for the role it played in providing funding for this Survey Plan.
Preservation Consultant Brewster Historical Commission
Eric Dray George H. Boyd, III, Chair
258A Bradford Street Patricia Busch
Provincetown, MA 02657 Renee Dee
EricDrayConsulting.com Faythe Ellis
Jeffrey Hayes
Patricia Hess
Brewster Park, undated (Photo source: Brewster Historical Society).
Cover: Assessor photos, clockwise from top left, 631 Tubman Road, 739 Lower Road, 1802 Main Street, 1795
Main Street, 126 Long Pond Road, 1772 Main Street, 2071 Main Street, 149 Cathedral Road, 559 Harwich Road.
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I. INTRODUCTION
Brewster has a wealth of historic buildings and other resources that are significant and worthy of
documentation. Resources spanning from the 17th to the 20th century all contribute to the
understanding of Brewster’s historic development and sense of place.
One of the core requirements for achieving preservation goals in Brewster is to update and complete
the town’s Inventory of Historic Places (the Survey). The Survey identifies and describes all
significant resources in Brewster, and identifies those resources that are eligible for the National
Register either individually or as part of a district.
A completed town-wide Survey will make it easier to develop historic and cultural resource
information for tourism, school programs, town boards, and year-round and seasonal residents. In
addition, the Survey is an important tool to ensure effective administration of the Old King’s
Highway Historic District, to protect scenic roads and views, and to better understand and protect
Brewster’s archaeological sites. Finally, an inventory of the town’s historic and cultural resources will
give the Brewster Historical Commission the necessary tools with which to carry out its role as the
town’s preservation planner.
In order to complete a town-wide comprehensive Survey, it is important to establish the scope and
priorities of the work. While many early resources, up through the mid-19th century, have already
been surveyed in Brewster, many of those survey forms were completed between 1969 and the early
1980s and are out-of-date and incomplete. In addition, many additional resources from the 19th and
early 20th century have not yet been surveyed.
One of the core responsibilities of all Historical Commissions in Massachusetts is to complete a
town-wide Survey documenting its historic resources. This Survey Plan is intended to guide the
Brewster Historical Commission and future consultants in accomplishing this important multi-phase
task.
This Survey Plan creates a road map for completing the town’s Inventory by providing the following:
Section II Outline of Brewster’s history and themes of development (p. 3)
Section III Survey Overview (p. 5)
Section IV Survey Plan Methodology (p. 7)
Section V Summary of Brewster’s Inventory (p. 9)
Section VI Survey Recommendations (p. 9)
Section VII Conclusion (p. 11)
Section VIII Bibliography (p. 12)
Appendix
A. Example of Form B written to current MHC standards (p. 14)
B. Brewster Street Index (included as a separate document)
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II. BREWSTER’S HISTORY & THEMES OF DEVELOPMENT
Identifying Brewster’s historical themes and patterns of development will provide a better
understanding of Brewster’s historic and archaeological resources.
A. Contact Period (1500-1620)*
Native American Sauguatucketts settled primarily around the north shore of present-day Brewster,
with planting fields concentrated at Stony Brook and other sites on the shores of nearby ponds.
There are known archaeological sites along the bay shore and Stony Brook area. There are no known
European sites from this period.
B. Plantation Period (1620-1675)
Permanent European settlement began in Brewster in the latter part of this Plantation Period and
was centered around the Main Street corridor. Main Street was laid out in 1665 as the region’s
primary east/west transportation route. It was originally known as the County Road or King’s
Highway. In Brewster, the original route followed Stony Brook Road. As settlement grew, additional
roads were developed north toward the shore, and into the interior connecting settlements to the
south. The European population in Brewster during this period was somewhere between 50 and 100,
but much of Brewster during this period remained occupied by Native Americans. Most of
Brewster’s earliest European settlement was in West Brewster in the Stony Brook area. There are no
known surviving structures from this Plantation Period.
C. Colonial Period (1675-1775)
Throughout the Colonial Period, Brewster was part of Harwich. Harwich was incorporated in 1694,
and Brewster lands were referred to as the North Precinct. European settlement continued to be
focused along the Main Street corridor, with concentrations around the meetinghouse in Brewster
Village, now First Parish Church (1969 Main Street; rebuilt 1834; BRE.22), and the hills, ponds and
streams of the Stony Brook area in West Brewster where the water flow became an important engine
for mill development. Harwich Road/Rt. 124 and Chatham Road/Rt. 137 emerged as important
north/south roadways during this period. The local population grew slowly but steadily as European
settlement increased, while native settlements declined. Mill interests and whaling joined agriculture
as important components of the local economy. Surviving residential architecture from this period
includes approximately 30 houses, the majority of which are Cape in form (Full, ½, and ¾), and
seven larger two-story Georgian-style houses. The majority of surviving house from this period are
found along Main Street (then including Stony Brook Road). Additional examples are found on a
number of other roads, including Old Long Pond Road and Tubman Road, and roads leading from
Main Street to the shore, including Point of Rocks Road, Linnell Landing Road, and Crosby Lane.
The only institutional resource that survives from this period is the First Parish Cemetery on
Breakwater Road. The first meetinghouse built at the time was subsequently replaced. The Sears
family burying ground on Old County Road (BRE.800) also dates to this period.
D. Federal Period (1775-1830)
Brewster’s population grew significantly during the Federal period, rising to 1,418 by 1830. In 1803,
the Harwich North Precinct separated from Harwich and Brewster was incorporated. Residential,
commercial and institutional development continued to be concentrated along Main Street and the
roads around Stony Brook, with other more isolated development found along Brewster’s secondary
roads. It was during this period that Brewster’s reputation as the home of merchant mariners was
established. Brewster also developed a large salt works industry. Approximately 75 houses survive
from this period. As with the Colonial period, the majority of houses built during the Federal period
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are Cape in form, but at least 8 elegant examples of two-story Federal-style houses survive with their
refined ornamentation (e.g. 739 Lower Road, BRE.96 and 648 Stony Brook Road, BRE.63). These
houses were representative of the growing wealth of Brewster citizens and sea captains. Houses built
during the latter part of this period began to reflect the emerging popularity of the Greek Revival
style and the gable-front form. Surviving institutional resources from this period include the
Universalist Society (1360 Main Street, BRE.237) and Crosby and Red Top Cemeteries (BRE.801 and
BRE.805).
E. Early Industrial Period (1830-1870)
Brewster’s peak population level of 1,525 was reached during the Early Industrial period, and was not
reached again until the 1960s. During these prosperous years, new development continued to be
focused along Main Street, which was straightened in West Brewster, bypassing Stony Brook and
Satucket Roads. In 1865, the Cape Cod Central Railroad initiated service through Brewster. Merchant
mariners remained prominent in the local economy, but salt making quickly declined. Agriculture also
remained an important industry. As of 1865, Brewster had 56 farms, one of the highest of any lower
Cape town, and 136 acres were devoted to cranberry bogs. Approximately 100 houses survive from
this period. Capes remained a popular house form, but the majority of houses built during this period
utilized the Greek Revival style and the 1½ or 2-story, gable-front or cross-gable form. A few modest
examples of other architectural styles popular at that time can also be found, including the Gothic
Revival-style house at 2074 Main Street (BRE.26). Surviving institutional resources includes the
Greek Revival-style Brewster Alms House (2311 Main Street, BRE.286) and the Universalist Church
(1935 Main Street, BRE.159) which is also Greek Revival but employs Italianate-style ornamentation.
F. Late Industrial Period (1870-1920)
Between 1870 and 1910, Brewster lost half of its population. As a result, there was little need for new
housing. Residential development that did occur was primarily to serve the emerging summer
community. This included a few high-style estates, along with clusters of bungalows and cottages
close to the shore. A knitting factory, Robbins & Everett, opened that extended the manufacturing
industry in West Brewster. Saltworks had declined but the wetlands continued to be used for
cranberry production. Approximately 140 houses survive from this period. The relatively few from
the late-19th century reflect both a hold-over of the Greek Revival gable-from form, and the
popularity of newer Victorian-era styles, including the Queen Anne, Second Empire and Stick styles.
Examples of these later styles include the Queen Anne-style Brewster Old Town Hall (1673 Main
Street, BRE.12), the Second Empire-style house at 1772 Main Street (BRE.15), and the Stick-style
Brewster Ladies’ Library (1822 Main Street, BRE.17). However, the majority of houses built during
this period were built in the early-20th century, mostly modest cottages and bungalows reflecting both
the weak local economy at the time, and the modest needs of summer houses.
G. Emergence of the Summer Economy (1920-1950s)
With the expansion of automobile ownership, summer tourism became a major economic force in
Brewster and all of Cape Cod. Local roadways were paved and improved as automobile highways.
Brewster’s reputation as a summer destination also grew after the establishment of Nickerson State
Park in the 1930s and the construction of the new Route 6 in the 1950s. The year-round population
rebounded slowly during this period. By 1940, Brewster's population stood at 827. New construction
continued to consist largely of modest seasonal houses, along with some auto-oriented commercial
development along Main Street. The most significant residential development of the period was the
growth of summer cottages communities such as Brewster Park and Pineland Park.
*These historic periods, and much of the historical narrative, are derived from the Massachusetts
Historical Commission’s 1984 Reconnaissance Survey Town Report.
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III. SURVEY OVERVIEW
The Massachusetts Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets (the Survey) becomes the basis
for planning to preserve a community’s heritage. Survey forms are the main product of the
community-wide Survey. Preservation planning is understood as a three-part process: Identification
– Evaluation – Protection. The Identification component of preservation planning is the Survey,
and it can serve as the building block of most preservation planning efforts.
Information on the Survey forms is used to evaluate which properties are eligible for listing in the
National Register of Historic Places, and to educate the community about its rich heritage. The
Inventory (the collection of Survey Forms) is also used by researchers, students, and town boards.
The Inventory is necessary for local historic district designation and review, demolition delay
consideration and all other planning and regulatory strategies that may be implemented to preserve
Brewster’s historic and archaeological resources.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) provides guidance in conducting a Survey and
preparing the forms that identify the town’s historic and archaeological resources. The Historic
Properties Survey Manual tells about the various types of forms on which to record information as well
as the types of information to record for each resource type or group of resources. Once completed,
Forms are submitted to the MHC, and the information is recorded in the state-wide database known
as the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS), which can be found at
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm. The existing Brewster Forms are also available at the
Brewster Ladies’ Library.
A. Survey Forms
The MHC has several types of forms that are used to record information about historic and
archaeological resources. The most commonly used survey form is a Building Form (Form B) on
which an individual building is recorded. The Area Form (Form A) is used to document a collection
of historic resources, such as a neighborhood, a cottage colony or a streetscape that has buildings or
other historic resources that share style, date of construction, and/or similar development patterns.
In these cases where the story and description are connected, it is more efficient to combine the
discussion on one comprehensive form. Each resource within the Area receives an inventory
number, but only representative or best examples of a common style or form are also surveyed
individually.
In addition to Building and Area Forms, the MHC has forms for documenting other types of
resources, including:
Form C – Objects: The only example in Brewster is the Harwich First Parish Church Archway and
Water Pump (BRE.901).
Form E – Burial Grounds and Cemeteries: Examples in Brewster include the Crosby Cemetery
(BRE.801) and Red Top Cemetery (BRE.805).
Form F – Structures: The only example in Brewster is the Higgins Farm Windmill (BRE.903).
For each type of Form, the front or first page gives a capsule view of the property – both physical
evidence and historical information regarding construction dates, first owners or names associated
with the resource, as well as use and condition. The first page also includes a color photograph and
an Assessor or USGS map to quickly identify a property.
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The back of the Form or the second page provides for both an Architectural Description and an
Historical Narrative. In addition, a bibliography is included. Finally there is a box to check if, after
applying the National Register Criteria, the surveyor has determined that the resource or collection of
resources is eligible for listing in the National Register either individually or as part of a district. If
this box is checked a National Register Criteria Statement form is included to note why the eligibility
determination has been made.
The Architectural Description records the historic resource as it appears at the time of the survey
project, creating a baseline for future preservation. The description should include information about
the resource’s shape and size, the materials used on each part, the architectural style employed, the
character-defining features on the building which represent that style, and the relationship of the
building to other resources in the area. The Historical Narrative includes information about the time
of construction, changes over time, how the resource was used and who used it, and how the
property relates to local or regional history.
An example of a Building Form, using current methodology, is included as Appendix A.
B. Documentary Sources
Historic research will require familiarity with the various resources available that tell of Brewster’s
development. A Bibliography is included in Section VIII of this Survey Plan. It lists various
documentary sources that will be the basis of the historical development for future survey work.
Research materials will include the following:
Maps. Historic maps show roads, location of buildings, footprints of buildings and names
associated with those resources at the time the map was made. Brewster is included on map from the
19th and early 20th century; a listing of which is provided in the Bibliography. These resources can
locate period houses, help in understanding when roads were laid out, and trace ownership.
Town Records. Other primary documentary sources include town reports, valuation lists, and vital
statistics. Brewster’s town reports are available at the Brewster Public Library dating back to 1885.
Other Records. Church records, town celebrations, organizations’ celebrations, and newspaper
clippings can provide information about municipal activities, businesses in town and residents who
lived in Brewster.
Photographs. The photo album of Caro A. Dugan, entitled Summer Pictures of Cape Cod includes a
few images of Brewster buildings (Brewster Ladies’ Library Special Collections).
On-line Resources. The Barnstable County Registry of Deeds is now searchable on-line
(www.barnstabledeeds.org). This allows researchers to trace ownership history. With these names
and dates, ownership can be confirmed on historic maps and atlases. In addition, the vital records of
these families can now be researched using web sites such as www.ancestry.com. This enables the
researcher to confirm births, deaths, marriages, occupations and more.
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IV. SURVEY PLAN METHODOLOGY
The information and recommendations provided in this Plan resulted from the following process of
preparing and annotating the Street Index.
A. Windshield Survey
The first step in preparing this Survey Plan was the windshield survey. To conduct the windshield
survey, a database was generated from the Brewster Assessor’s records of all buildings 100 years or
older. However, in order to ensure that important resources were not missed, the original database
included buildings built 1925 or older. The consultant then visited the roads on the database to view
each resource. The consultant made notes, as necessary, for each building or other resource,
including style and form, condition, visibility and the accuracy of the Assessor building age. The
database included all resources for which a Survey Form had already been prepared and noted
changes, including those which are no longer extant.
B. Street Index
Once the field work was completed, the consultant integrated the findings into the Brewster Survey
Plan Street Index. This Index provides a wealth of information and is the most critical component of
this Survey Plan. In addition to field observations, the Street Index includes observations from
analysis of existing Survey Forms and Assessor records. All existing MHC Building Form numbers
and Area letters are included, as is the year each Form was prepared, and whether each resource is
located within the Old King’s Highway local historic district or one of Brewster’s two National
Register districts. The Index is an Excel document – the data can be sorted to generate lists for any
of the Survey Recommendations in Section VI of this Plan, but has been provided here in
alphabetical order by street. The Street Index is a working document and should be amended as the
Commission gathers more information. As the Survey progresses, information about each property
will be available to add to or refine the Index. This Survey Plan does not take the place of a Survey
and it is important to continue to refine this list as research is conducted.
The following is an explanation of the content of each column in the Street Index. This information
is also provided at the end of the Street Index itself.
ST#1 and ST#2 The street number has been derived in the field or from Assessor’s
maps and records. In some instances there is a discrepancy between
Assessor street numbers, numbers in the field, and Survey Form
numbers. The range of numbers is provided where applicable.
STREET NAME The street name is the name in the Assessor’s database, which does
not always conform to the street name on the Survey Form.
Discrepancies are referenced in the Notes column.
Map, Parcel and
Ext
The Brewster Assessor’s data includes the Map, Parcel and Extension
number. This information will be the key to including historic
resource information in the town’s GIS mapping program.
Ass Yr This column provides the year the resource was built according to
Assessor records. In many cases, these dates are estimates and are
often significantly revised when Survey work is done. Field
observations regarding actual age are included in the Notes column.
MHC Year Resources in Brewster that have been surveyed were given a year
built. This date is often more accurate than the Assessor date.
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MHC #
This column provides the Inventory number assigned by the MHC
that is used in the MHC database MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural
Resource Information System).
MHC Area The capitalized letters in this column refer to the MHC Area Form(s)
in which the resource was included. As seen in the Index, not all
buildings listed in an Area Form have been individually surveyed. In
Brewster, some resources have multiple Area Form letters. That is
because the MHC gave Area letters to subsequent local and National
Register districts – Area G is the Old King’s Highway local historic
district, Area I is the Old King’s Highway National Register District,
and Area J is the Stony Brook-Factory Village National Register
District.
NRD Following on the prior column, this column indicates whether the
resource is located within the Old King’s Highway (OKH) or Stony
Brook-Factory Village (SB) National Register Districts.
LHD Similarly, this column indicates whether the resource is located within
the Old King’s Highway local historic district (OKH).
Form Year Including the year the Form was prepared was important to help
indicate whether the Form should be redone.
Rec This column provides specific recommendations for Survey:
Done means the existing Survey Form is adequate.
No means no Survey Form has been prepared to date and it should
not be surveyed. Explanations are provided in Notes column.
Redo means a Survey Form was prepared in the past but is
incomplete and should be resurveyed.
Yes means no Survey Form has been prepared to date and should be.
Yes-A means the resource should be surveyed as part of an Area
Form. The decision whether to also prepare an individual Building
Form would be determined when the Area Form is prepared.
Hist. Name
The historic name refers to the first known person or use to be
associated with the property. Generally it is derived from map
research or existing survey forms.
Notes
This final column provides a variety of notes:
- Observations, e.g. visibility, condition, additions
- Corrections regarding a building address
- Explanation why Survey is not recommended.
- Building form, size and style
- “ca” which means that the MHC Year was a “circa” date, “ca” was
removed to enable sorting in Excel
- “NR info” which means there is useful information from a National
Register district nomination for updating or preparing a Form B.
- Italicized row means the resource has been demolished or rebuilt
- “HLI” refers to the 2007 Heritage Landscape Report and indicates
that the resource was identified as a priority.
Hidden columns Columns A, B, C, K, L, M, N, O are hidden in order to ensure that
the most important information can be included on one Excel page.
The hidden data includes additional location and GIS information
provided by the Assessor to enable future mapping, and current
home owner names and mailing addresses.
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V. BREWSTER’S INVENTORY
Existing Inventory
Presently, the Brewster Inventory on file with the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC)
includes a total of 209 individual Forms, including 199 Building Forms, 8 Cemetery Forms, 1
Structure Form and 1 Object Form. The great majority of individual Building Forms were prepared
between 1969 and 1985, and most of those were prepared in 1979-1980. Many of the cemeteries
were surveyed in 1990-1991.
The older Building Forms do not utilize the current MHC Survey format and methodology. In many
cases, the Architectural Description and/or Historical Narrative are non-existent, incomplete and/or
possibly inaccurate. In addition, the photographs on these Forms are between 30-45 years old and do
not, therefore, document current conditions.
New photographs, architectural descriptions, historical narratives and more precise map locations
(including accurate street numbers and Assessors map numbers) will greatly improve the usefulness
of the Survey. This Survey Plan has been prepared to guide the Brewster Historical Commission in
updating and improving the Inventory.
Condition of Resources
In general, the resources identified in the Street Index and viewed in the field ar e in good condition.
A few buildings are deteriorated, which is noted in the Street Index. Many buildings appear to have
retained a significant portion of original materials, including siding and windows, although changes
have occurred which will be documented when the existing Forms are updated with new
photographs and architectural descriptions. As noted in the Street Index, a number of properties also
have historic outbuildings such as barns and cottages. Of the buildings that have been surveyed to
date, approximately 12 appear to have been demolished or rebuilt.
Un-Surveyed Properties – Pre-1900
Brewster’s early Survey efforts concentrated almost exclusively on resources built in the 19th century
or older. A total of 249 buildings were identified in the Street Index that were built prior to 1900. Of
those, 69 have not yet been surveyed.
Twentieth Century Resources
Brewster’s 20th century resources are largely undocumented but contribute to the town’s sense of
place and historical development.
VI. SURVEY RECOMMENDATIONS
It is likely that a town-wide comprehensive Survey will need to be completed in a series of phases.
For that reason, the Brewster Historical Commission needs to determine the order with which to
proceed. The following is a summary of recommendations to complete the Survey, and
considerations the Commission should weigh when deciding how to prioritize those
recommendations.
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Updating Existing Building Forms (171 Buildings)
Approximately 171 Building Forms were prepared between 1969 and 1985 which have inadequate
Historical Narrative and/or Architectural Descriptions, and outdated photographic and mapping
documentation. These Building Forms should be updated and expanded to current standards.
These resources were deemed the most important to document in the past. Many of these resources
are located within the Old King’s Highway local historic district and/or one of Brewster’s two
National Register districts (as noted in the Street Index). Both designations provide degrees of
protection. It may be important to prioritize updating these Survey forms to enable those regulatory
processes to be better administered.
Building Forms for Undocumented Individual Resources (121 Buildings)
According to the Street Index data and field observations, a total of 121 Buildings with Assessor or
MHC dates of 1920 or earlier have not yet been documented that should be. Of those, 69 Buildings
likely date from the 18th or 19th century, and 52 resources date from 1900 forward. Of the 20th
century resources, 11 of the buildings are recommended for survey within an Area Form (see below)
and 41 are recommended for individual Building Forms because they represent interesting and/or
intact examples of early-20th century forms and styles, including primarily bungalows and cottages.
It is important to document resources that have not yet been surveyed. Typically, these resources
would be prioritized chronologically, documenting the oldest and, presumably, most threatened first.
It may also be important to prioritize those resources that are located within the local or National
Register districts (similar to above).
Existing Area Forms
In Brewster, 4 Area Form were prepared between 1980 and 1989 which covered the length of Main
Street, the Stony Brook area, and South Brewster. Portions of these Areas have since been
incorporated into National Register districts, as noted on the Street Index. Updating these Area
Forms is not, therefore, recommended. The focus should be on updating existing individual Building
Forms within these Areas and Districts and documenting additional resources that have not yet been
surveyed. There are two other Area Forms: the Nickerson CCC Camp Site (Forms F and K), and
Stony Brook Grist Mill (Form L) completed in 2013 which includes the Grist Mill and surrounding
related structures. Neither of these Area Forms need to be redone.
New Area Forms
Many of Brewster’s early to mid-20th century houses were built due to Brewster’s rise as a seasonal
destination. Most of these resources are vernacular – simple cottages and bungalows. In some cases,
resources are aggregated in locations along the bay shore. It is recommended that new Area Forms
be prepared which will document the history of these communities and provide descriptions of
typical building forms and types without having to document every building in the Area. In cases
where the story and description are connected, it is more efficient to combine the discussion on one
comprehensive Area form. Each resource within the Area would receive an inventory number, but
only representative examples would also be surveyed on individual Building Forms.
It is recommended that Area Forms be prepared for the following collections of summer cottage
communities that include resources from ca. 1900 to ca. 1950:
Ellis Landing – Captain Dunbar Road Area (Early-20th century cottages)
161, 189 and 195 Ellis Landing Road
5, 9, 11, 17, 21, 27, 35, 41, and 47 Captain Dunbar Road
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Brewster Park Area (Early-20th century cottages)
Bradford Road, Carver Road, Cemetery Road, Center Street, Graham Road, Hinckley Road,
Sunhouse Path
Pineland Park Area (Early-20th century cottages, most post-1920)
Anchors Aweigh Road, Pilots Way, Seaway Road, Skippers Way
Swift Lane Area (Nice small grouping of similar cottages)
20, 30 and 40 Swift Lane
Note: Some houses that contribute to these proposed Areas have Assessor dates post-1920
and were not included in the Street Index. These additional addresses would be identified
when each Area Form is prepared.
Burial grounds and cemeteries: Brewster has documented 8 burial grounds and cemeteries on
MHC Forms; 3 of the Forms are sufficiently complete (Dillingham, First Parish, and Brewster-Lower
Road Cemeteries) and 5 are recommended for re-survey (Sears, Crosby, Eldridge, and Red Top
Cemeteries, and the New Burying Ground). The first three cemeteries are included in National
Register districts. The other five are not listed in the National Register. If the Historical Commission
or other interested party ever decided to pursue National Register listing, these Forms would need to
be updated to determine eligibility.
Objects and Structures: Only the Harwich First Parish Church Archway and Water Pump and the
Higgins Farm Windmill have individual Survey Forms. Other structures and objects located within
the CCC Camp in Nickerson Park, Village Green and Grist Mill have been identified in Area Forms.
The objects and structures associated with the Grist Mill have been adequately surveyed in the 2013
Area Form (BRE.L). It is not recommend that the Village Green or Nickerson Park resources be
further surveyed at this time. If it becomes clear that these resources are somehow threatened, that
recommendation could change.
Archaeology: Documentation of archaeological resources should be completed by conducting an
archaeological overview project followed by a field work project that identifies resources and
generates an archaeology sensitivity map. Information about location of actual sites is typically not
public information. Refer to the MHC article “Community-Wide Archaeological Surveys” which
appeared in the Preservation Advocate, Fall 2005. www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpres/presidx.htm.
Heritage Landscapes
The Town of Brewster, working with Boston University’s Preservation Studied Master’s Program,
completed a Heritage Landscape Reconnaissance Report in 2007. This Report followed a model
developed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Recommendations
from this Reconnaissance Report have been referenced in the Notes column of the Street Index.
VII. Conclusion
The identification and documentation of Brewster’s historic resources will be a vital component in preserving
Brewster’s sense of place for year-round and seasonal residents and visitors. This Survey Plan and Street
Index are working, evolving documents to be used by town officials and consultants to achieve preservation
planning and land use goals, and to expand the town’s understanding of and connection to its extraordinary
past.
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VIII. Bibliography
The following selected Bibliography includes resources that can be used for completion of MHC Inventory
Forms and possible National Register nominations.
Bowman, George Ernest (ed). Vital Records of the Town of Brewster to 1849. Mass. Society of Mayflower
Descendants. Boston. 1904.
Brewster Historical Society. Brewster: A Cape Cod Town Remembered, Brewster. 1976.
Brewster Historical Society. Collections including clippings, miscellaneous notes, historic photograph and postcards.
Brewster Historical Society. Images of America, Brewster, Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, SC. 2002.
Brewster Historical Society. Important Facts in the History of Brewster Gleaned From Various Sources. (BHS 1.1.17.1-
1. 1964).
Brewster Ladies Library. Clippings collection. Vertical files.
Brewster Mill Sites Committee. The Brewster Mill Sites in Brewster, on Cape Cod. Brewster Mill Sites Committee.
1974.
Brewster Mill Sites Committee. Minutes of Meetings. September 7, 1945 - June 1, 1966. Brewster Town Clerk.
Brewster Tercentenary and Old Home Celebration. 1930.
Brewster, Town of. Archives; Vault Inventory. (index to historical records) Town Clerk office.
Brewster, Town of. Annual Reports. 1877-present.
Brewster, Town of. Assessors Records. current.
Brewster, Town of (George Ernest Bowman ed.). Vital Records of the Town of Brewster to the end of the year 1849.
Mass. Society of Mayflower Descendants. Boston. Mass. 1904.
Decima, Elena. Intensive Archaeological Survey for Approximately 25 Miles of Transmission Line Right-of-Way in the
Towns of Chatham, Orleans, Brewster, Dennis, and Harwich, Massachusetts. Report prepared by Timelines, Inc. for
Commonwealth Electric Company. 1994.
Deyo, Simeon L. History of Barnstable County, Mass. H. W. Blake Co. N. Y. 1890.
Ellis, Katherine Josephine. Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook. ca. 1890s - 1940s. (BHS 1.1.3.1.2-1 10/1967).
Freeman, Frederick. The History of Cape Cod, Annals of the Thirteen Towns of Barnstable County. Vols. 1 and 2.
Boston: W. H. Piper& Co. 1869.
Huggins, Cynthia. From Mastheads to Moorings: A Chronicle of Brewster Sea Captains. 1977. Boston College Masters
Thesis.
Jenkins, Candace, Brewster Old King’s Highway National Register District Nomination, 1996 (MHC MACRIS).
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Jenkins, Candace, Stony Brook – Factory Village National Register District Nomination, 2000 (MHC MACRIS).
Massachusetts Historical Commission. Historic & Archaeological Resources of Cape Cod & the Islands. 1987.
Massachusetts Historical Commission. Brewster Reconnaissance Survey Report. 1984.
May, Augusta. Reminiscences of Brewster: 1830-1881 (typed selections from original manuscript) Brewster Ladies
Library.
Paine, Josiah, A History of Harwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1800. Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle
Publishing Co., Inc. 1937.
Smith, Mary Lou (ed). The Book of Falmouth, A Tricentennial Celebration: 1686-1986. Falmouth Historical
Commission. 1986.
Historic Maps, Atlases and Plans
Maps
Hale, John G. Town of Brewster. 1832.
Map of the Old Mill Sites Known as Factory Village. Brewster Historical Society, Inc. 1966. not to scale.
County Atlases
Walling, Henry F. Atlas of the Counties of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket. 1857.
Historic American Buildings Survey, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/habs_haer/.
Walker, George H. Atlas of Barnstable County. George H. Walker & Co. Boston. 1880.
Walker, George H. Atlas of Barnstable County. Walker Lithograph Co. Boston. 1908.
Site Plans
Nickerson & Berger. The Mill Site in Brewster Mass. Property of The Town of Brewster. Nickerson & Berger, Civil
Engineers, Eastham, Mass. May, 1950. Scale: 1” = 40’. (B93; P115)
Hamilton, Edward P. Mill Site, Brewster Mass. June 13, 1953. Scale: 1” = 10’.
Web sites
www.ancestry.com (vital records)
www.barnstabledeeds.org (title records
Appendix
A. Examples of MHC Building Form (271 Stage Harbor Road, Chatham)
B. Brewster Survey Street Index (separate document)
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