Mrs. George E. Brewer- Reporter and Storyteller

Mrs. George E. Brewer in her later years.
Courtesy of the Wood Museum of Springfield History
Springfield, MA

In the early 20th century Mrs. George E. Brewer was the Longmeadow correspondent for the Springfield Republican!  It was the newspaper that was published in Springfield, MA.  For more than 30 years this talented woman carved out a successful career at the newspaper by writing stories about Longmeadow's day to day events and its residents.  She was very well known and respected in the Longmeadow area.  Whenever she was credited with writing a story or presenting a paper to a group her name was formally given/ introduced as Mrs. George E. Brewer- as was the custom of that time period. 

Mrs. Brewer was a wealth of information about the history of Longmeadow, MA and the Connecticut River Valley.  She was also very proud of her heritage.  She was a lineal descendant of Quartermaster George Colton through the line of Thomas Colton, his son.  As we all know, Quartermaster George Colton was one of the founders of Longmeadow, MA.       

This talented lady was born in 1842 in Somers, CT.  Her name was Caroline A. Coomes with the nickname- "Carrie".  When she was a young girl her parents Bela and Julia Sexton Coomes and family moved to their new residence in Longmeadow.  It was the Capt. Gideon Colton house at 1028 Longmeadow Street.  Her father had been born in Longmeadow in 1802.

Carrie attended Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, MA.  Her first husband and infant daughter passed away and then she remarried in 1869.  Carrie and her new husband Ohio resident George E. Brewer moved to Longmeadow.  Later, they purchased and lived at 912 Longmeadow Street.  The Brewers raised 3 daughters- Sarah, Corinne and Blanche.

912 Longmeadow Street
Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

Carrie was always interested in current events and reported on current affairs at meetings of the Women's Political Class in Springfield.  She was a charter member of the Longmeadow Women's Club.  Carrie Brewer was also the Historian for the Longmeadow Historical Society.  Whenever researching for a report of local interest she drew on her knowledge of the past history and of the past residents of Longmeadow.

There were so many interesting stories that Carrie Brewer wrote!  "Marchant" Samuel Colton was always an interesting topic and she wrote a fascinating story about his life and his house.  The article was published in the Springfield Republican in 1916 with the following introduction.

Springfield Republican
Sept. 17, 1916
(Click image to enlarge.)

"Marchant" Samuel Colton's house was demolished in 1916.  However, the front door was gifted to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  This museum credited Mrs. George E. Brewer with information about "Marchant" Colton's house and the door in their Bulletin (1921).

(Click to enlarge.)

The 1909 Longmeadow Street Directory included her name- Mrs. George E. Brewer along with her occupation- reporter.

The 1915 Longmeadow Street Directory listed her name differently- after her husband George E. Brewer died in 1911.

Caroline Brewer was not just a reporter.  Caroline Brewer was a storyteller.  She had a wonderful style of writing and her stories were factual and interesting.  They always informed the reader more about a topic or taught a reader about a new subject.  This wonderful lady lived in Longmeadow for so many years and witnessed many events during her lifetime.  She was a historian and a wonderful role model for future Longmeadow historians to follow.

Carrie Brewer's husband died in 1911.  She continued her career as a reporter for the Springfield Republican.  Caroline A. Brewer died in 1925 at the age of 83. 

~Written by Judy Moran