In the Town of Southeast, the Village of Brewster was named for its founding father. Perched on a knoll that overlooks Oak Street in the village is the Walter F. Brewster house.

The Brewster House, which has an interior portion that could be from pre-Revolutionary times is set to be torn down. The historic home has been falling apart since catching fire in the 1980s.

In 1882, Dr. John M. Brewster’s house at 359 East St. was purchased by William Russell Allen for $12,000 (approximately $350,000 today). Three years later, Allen hired Pittsfield architect H. Neil ...