History History
History History Writing
History Brewster’s
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The “Ac” and th
Estabrook’s Design for the First Campus Houses, 1890-1903 Arthur F. Estabrook often accompanied John Brewster and son William to
Brick and Mortar: the Buildings of Brewster
Wolfeboro during the summers for relaxation, reflection, fishing, hunting,
By Robert and Shirley Richardson
and the hot city. It was perhaps during these visits that a love affair with
I
swimming, and birding. While staying in the village they often visited with Dr. Henry Libby and probably were guests at the Pavilion Hotel just on the edge of campus where the Civil War monument stands today. With their wives, they would enjoy the pastoral life and time away from Boston Wolfeboro and Lake Winnipesaukee and its tranquil unspoiled scenery
n May 2010, as we neared completion of the research, writing, and publication of The Brewster Story, we began to turn our attention to the history of the buildings, halls, and roadways of the Academy campus.
When the original Academic Building burned in 1903, almost all records and information about the early years of the school were lost. In an effort to avoid
took hold. Over these summers it’s possible that the group contemplated building a school for the children of Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro to provide them with an educational opportunity that otherwise might not have been available to them in this rural area.
another catastrophe of missing files and given the abundance of materials we sifted through during our book research, we knew this was the time to pull together
As we researched the history of the more than 40 campus buildings, we
as many documents and records that could be located and compiled into a rich
discovered that the Estabrook was one of the first residential structures to
history of the Academy’s facilities, greens, and roadways. This new document
take its place at the heart of the Brewster Academy campus. In 1887, just
would complement The Brewster Story and preserve more of the school’s history.
after John’s death, Arthur purchased a piece of land from Daniel Pickering on which to build his handsome summer home on the hill overlooking
About the time we began this project, we discovered that Harrison Moore ’46,
Lake Winnipesaukee.
a retired Marine who served on the Brewster staff for many years, had spent decades researching Wolfeboro’s old homes and buildings. Later this hobby and
Soon after, in 1888, the John Brewster Trust acquired a large track of land
his fondness for Brewster Academy led him to frame an initial history of campus
from the heirs of Daniel Pickering, Caroline and Charles Rollins, on which
residences and buildings.
to build the school in Wolfeboro that John had made provisions for in his 1886 will. Estabrook became one of the three original Brewster Academy
Moore’s edited writings, accompanied by our broad research and annotations, follow
Trustees, and his new home would shortly become part of the Academy
in alphabetical order, usually by their current names. Cross-references are also given
mall and sit just to the left of the main Academic Building (to be built in
to some long-standing buildings whose names have changed over the years.
1890). As trustee and a competent businessman, Estabrook immediately began laying the foundation for fulfilling the vision of John Brewster.
Here and in the next few issues of Connections we will present histories of Brewster’s facilities and include an illustrated map showing the chronological
More buildings and homes were to come as Estabrook set out to acquire
growth and development of the campus. We anticipate compiling these into a
several other buildings along Main Street. He believed that two buildings
complementary booklet to The Brewster Story.
on Main Street, Lord and Kimball houses, would greatly expand the school
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BrewsterConnections – Fall 2012