Wolfeboro Historical Society Photograph Archive Schools Brewster Free Academy and Town Hall

The history of Brewster began with the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy, which was chartered in 1820 to provide secondary education in the area. The Academy served as the High School for almost 70 years, including name changes; known as the Christian Institute for 7 years, and the Wolfeboro High School for 9 years. In 1887, the original charter was amended as a result of a grant in the will of John Brewster, an extremely wealthy Boston banker, and the school was renamed Brewster Free Academy. Classes were held in the old building until 1890, when the new Academy Building was completed (in the present location overlooking Wolfeboro Bay). That same year, the old building was sold, relocated, and remodeled, and Brewster Memorial Hall (the present Town Hall) built on that site. Brewster Academy served as the local high school and a prep school until 1964, when Kingswood High School opened, then became private. The Town Hall was officially bought by the Town of Wolfeboro from the Brewster Trust for $1 in 2004.

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