Many reading this will not understand the value of being born and growing up through high school in a community like Brewster. I, for one, believe it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me and my family.

The town was founded in 1910 and was probably named for one of the men that founded it. The phosphate industry in PolkCounty was beginning to thrive around that time and small towns were set up to give their workers a place to live and support their families.  American Cyanamid Company owned and provided a manager for Brewster. The company also arranged living areas, separate but equal, for Blacks and Whites. Buildings were provided to house a Commissary, Post Office, Drug Store, Theater, Doctor's Office and even a Filling Station for gas as cars became more plentiful. Even the homes, some with garages, were built and maintained by the company and rented to workers sometimes for as little as $2.00 per month. School buildings were built and teachers hired and even offered living space by the company. The schools started out with 12 grades and in 1945 the 12th grade was sent to Mulberry by bus. In 1951 the 9th, 10th 11th grades were also bused to Mulberry.

Yes, we had entertainment and activities. Our town had a golf couse early on and later a Big swimming pool with a sand bottom. Imagine! I remember wrapping the May pole , basketball, and baseball games, skating, tennis courts and many fished in the pits and hunted with their dads. Halloween was a special time at school with a fish pond, cake walks, a scary room and costume contests, cooking and selling hot dogs/hamburgers to make money . Most of us had radios at home but tv's were real luxuries. Our school auditorium served for many things: Sunday School and Church, Voting, PTA, school plays, and even used to give out gas-rationing coupons. We had a lot , most importantly, our parents were there to help and supervise! The Company also hired and provided homes for the Doctors and Nurses who were in their officies and came to the school when needed.

Of course, Phosphate was our reason for being. Draglines to dig it,Trains to haul it and a Dry Plant were all part of our daily scenery.

At one time some 150 or more homes and buildings existed in this community. Two things we do still have are Memories and Fellow Brewsterites. Unfortunately many are now deceased, but families are still around. We pay Tribute to the ones who came before us and paved our way, teaching us good values and leaving a big extended Family.

Thank You for Our Brewster Village!!

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