The Isaac Brewer House on Main Street in Wilbraham in 1898. Image courtesy of the Wilbraham Public Library.
The house in 2015:
The Isaac Brewer House is one of the oldest existing buildings in Wilbraham; it dates to about 1748, and was originally the home of Isaac Brewer, a prominent early settler of what is today the town of Wilbraham. Present-day Wilbraham was settled beginning in the 1730s, and at the time it was part of Springfield. Known as the Outward Commons, this area was on the extreme eastern edge of Springfield’s borders, which once stretched as far as Wilbraham to the east and Westfield to the west. Isaac Brewer was the son of Daniel Brewer, who served as the pastor of the church in Springfield from 1694 to 1733. Following Reverend Brewer’s death in 1733, a dispute arose in Springfield regarding his replacement, Robert Breck, whose views were considered unorthodox to the more conservative Calvinists in Springfield. This was perhaps a factor in Isaac Brewer’s decision to move to Wilbraham around the same time that Breck became the pastor, and in 1741 he was one of the eight original members of the newly-created Wilbraham church.
The house remained in the Brewer family for 150 years, until it was sold in 1898 to merchant Frank Gurney, the owner of Gurney’s Store just a short distance away (his home is almost visible on the far right of the 1904 photo in that post). The first photo must’ve been taken either right before or right after he moved in; perhaps his family is the one photographed in the front yard. Like the historic photo in this post, I suspect that this photo may have been taken by the Howes Brothers, photographers from Ashfield Massachusetts who traveled around New England during the late 1890s and early 1900s, often photographing people in front of their homes.
Sometime soon after Gurney moved in, he made some alterations that are apparent in the present-day scene, including the front porch, second story bay window, and the altered windows on the first floor. By the 1950s, the Gurneys were no longer living here, and the house was divided into a two-family residence. However, overall the building remains in good condition, and aside from Gurney’s alterations it is still recognizable as a historic colonial-era house.
Thanks, Derek. I am an ancestor of Isaac and learned much from your post! It is interesting to learn that Isaac likely came to Wilbraham as the result of a church schism with Robert Breck. Especially considering that Rev. Breck married Isaac’s older sister, Eunice. Awkward!
Thanks again for the great pictures and the historical context.
Paul
Hello Derek,
I am the archivist for Wilbraham and Monson Academy. A friend of the school recently found a bracelet on our grounds that he believes belongs to Lidia Brewer. Lidia graduated from the academy in 1826 our first year here. John who found the bracelet believes Lidia went on to marry Ed Colt who I cannot find in our records. I am hoping to find a living descendent of Lidia’s to share its discovery with. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Janet:
Yes, Lydia Hale Brewer married Edwin N Colt in 1834 in Wilbraham. That is amazing to find a bracelet all these years later!
Paul (Brewer)
Hi there, the house you’re talking about is less than a mile from mine, I love that house! I in fact own the oldest house in Wilbraham… Built by Noah Alvord in 1732, the year George Washington was born… Next month I will have been here 30 years… I love my house!
I was hoping the information would be changed to the correct information… my house is the second built in town, the oldest one because the original first house burned down… Check with a historical department in town…Again, 1732…thank you..
What information is incorrect here?
The article says the house is one of the oldest in Wilbraham, not the oldest.
So everything is still correct. It is one of the oldest in town (which includes the oldest). He didn’t write anything wrong. Not sure why you’re nitpicking the wording.