Adult/Senior Programs

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History Exchange draws packed houses  for lovers of local history who would like to learn more about Brewster and Putnam County in general alongside like minded people. Guest speakers such as Alexandra Johnson, niece of Marjorie Addis, editor of The Brewster Standard, Alicia Briley, Town of Carmel Historian, Vincent D'Acquino, author of several books on Sybil Ludington, and Amy Campanaro, former director of the Southeast Museum, have presented on such interesting topics as The Addis family, The Roosevelt cousins in Putnam County, Sybil Ludington, and the teahouses of Brewster.  These meetings are facilitated by Deborah Oswald, Ed.D, Director of Education and Programming at the Southeast Museum. Deborah has presented on Enoch Crosby, Revolutionary Spy, Edith Diehl, bookbinder and founder of the Brewster Library, Lily Deacon Forepaugh, equestrienne and circus performer, Susan B. Anthony, who presented at the Carmel Court House on April 11, 1855, Eleanor Roosevelt, who advocated for education throughout Putnam, The Tilly Foster Mine workers, local  Civil War heroes Frank Wells, and Darius, African American member of the Harlem Hellfighters (World War One) Clinton Peterson, African American Civil War Hero Frank Myers, African American Revolutionary soldier and former enslaved person Tone Waring and his wife Mehitable, or Etta, for whom "Lake Tonetta" was named, and the last enslaved person to appear on a New York State census, Sophia Provost. 

We meet once a month on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 in the air conditioned conference room at the Brewster Library. Interested people can register on the library's event calendar. 

History Book club members meet to discuss assigned reading books on historical topics of interest. The group is facilitated by Deborah Oswald, Ed.D., Director of Education and Programming at the Southeast Museum. We are looking for new members. 

Past History Book Club books include:

• A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II 
• The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America
• Wedding of the Waters: The Erie Canal and the Making of a Great Nation 
• Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty

History Book Club  meets once a month on Thursdays from 1:30-2:30  in the air conditioned conference room at the Brewster Library. Interested people can register on the library's event calendar.