Robert Newton Brezee

Robert Newton Brezee in 1892

Robert Newton Brezee (1851–1929), usually referred to as R. Newton Brezee or Newton Brezee, was an American architect chiefly active in Saratoga Springs, New York, and surrounding areas.

Professional

Brezee came to Saratoga Springs in 1867. He worked as a carpenter, and left Saratoga for a while to work on the planned community of Garden City, Long Island built by Alexander Turney Stewart.[1] A self-taught architect, he returned to Saratoga Springs and opened an office in 1884.[1] He is credited with the design of more than fifty buildings.[2]

Personal

Brezee was born on September 26, 1851, in Middleburgh, New York. He married Jennie M. Carr (1855–1950) on July 25, 1881, in Saratoga Springs.[3] The couple had four daughters: Edna Winford Brezee (1882–1971), Claire M. Brezee (born 1885) (Mrs. Samuel J. Mott), Elizabeth L. Brezee (1887–1989), and Dorothy Newton Brezee (1897–1949).[4]

Brezee died in 1929; he and Jennie are buried in Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.

Buildings designed

Brezee designed primarily in the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. Many Brezee-designed buildings have been preserved in the Union Avenue Historic District and the East Side Historic District in Saratoga Springs. The following is a partial list of these and of his other works:

City Address Building type Date Photo
Saratoga Springs 105 Lake Ave.[5] Single-family home 1884
Ballston Spa George West Office Building, within Union Mill Complex, Milton Ave. (NY 50)[6] Queen Anne-style 2-story brick office building 1884
Saratoga Springs 159 Division Street Single-family home 1884–85
Raquette Lake Antlers Hotel 1885
Saratoga Springs 75 Caroline Street Single-family home 1885-86
Saratoga Springs 10 Fifth Avenue Single-family home 1886
Saratoga Springs 156 Caroline Street Summer home 1886-87
Saratoga Springs 109 Caroline Street[7] Single-family home 1887
Saratoga Springs 511 Broadway Office and residence of Dr. Douglas C Moriarta 1887
Saratoga Springs 487 Broadway Residence of Davis Coleman 1887
Saratoga Springs 167 Grand Avenue Single-family home 1887
Saratoga Springs 628 North Broadway Single-family home 1887
Saratoga Springs 170-172 Spring Street Duplex 1887
Saratoga Springs 203 Union Avenue Single-family home 1888
Saratoga Springs 114 Caroline Street Single-family home 1888
Saratoga Springs 34 Clark Street Single-family home 1888–89
Saratoga Springs 59 State Street Single-family home 1888–89
Saratoga Springs 5 Fifth Avenue Single-family home 1889
Saratoga Springs 119 Caroline Street Single-family home 1891
Saratoga Springs 153 Phila Street Single-family home 1892–93
Saratoga Springs 179 Caroline Street Single-family home 1896
Saratoga Springs 86 Court Street Residence 1896
Saratoga Springs 190-194 Grand Avenue Row houses 1896
Saratoga Springs 91 Circular Street Residence 1896
Saratoga Springs 135 Lake Avenue Single-family home 1896
Saratoga Springs 16 Marion Place Single-family home 1896
Saratoga Springs 22 Marion Place Single-family home 1896
Saratoga Springs 21 Van Dam Street Church 1897
Saratoga Springs 136 Circular Street Single-family home (expansion) 1898
Corinth First Baptist Church[8] Church 1898
Saratoga Springs 5 Madison Avenue Single-family home 1898
Saratoga Springs 19 Marion Place Single-family home 1899
Saratoga Springs 96 Lake Avenue Single-family home 1899–1900
Saratoga Springs 112 Spring Street[9] School 1900
Saratoga Springs 55 Union Avenue Single-family home 1901
Saratoga Springs Church Street at West Avenue Saratoga Golf Club—club house 1902 Demolished
Saratoga Springs 205 Broadway Single-family home 1902 Demolished
Saratoga Springs 90 Lake Avenue Single-family home c.1902
Saratoga Springs 9 Marion Place Single-family home 1902
Saratoga Springs 122 Regent Street Carriage house 1902
Saratoga Springs 120 Circular Street Residence 1903
Saratoga Springs 28 Union Avenue[10] Single-family home 1903
Saratoga Springs 56 Union Ave.[11] Single-family home 1903
Saratoga Springs 142 Lake Avenue Single-family home 1904
Saratoga Springs 687 North Broadway Single-family home 1904
Saratoga Springs 64-66 Ludlow Street[12] the former "Hawley Children's Home" Children's home 1904
Saratoga Springs 25 Fifth Avenue Single-family home 1906
Lake George Triuna Island Summer retreat of Spencer and Katrina Trask 1906-7
Saratoga Springs Union Avenue Yaddo— "West House" 1906–12
Corinth 611 Palmer Avenue Palmer Avenue School 1908
Round Lake US Route 9 Summer home 1908
Barkersville Administration building and Pavilion number 1 Saratoga County Sanitorium[13] Sanitorium 1913
Saratoga Springs 75 Ludlow Street Single-family home ca.1928

[12]==References==

  1. ^ a b Holmes, Timothy (2008). Saratoga Springs, New York: A Brief History. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-59629-452-3.
  2. ^ Holmes, Timothy A.; Stonequist, Martha (2000). Saratoga Springs: A Historical Portrait. Arcadia Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 0-7385-0438-6.
  3. ^ Durkee, Cornelius E. "Reminiscences of Saratoga". Saratogian. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  4. ^ "Miss Dorothy Brezee Dead; Known as Nurse" (PDF). Saratogian. January 14, 1949. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  5. ^ "Spa Preservation Foundation Slates Series on Architecture". Schenectady Gazette. April 23, 1983. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  6. ^ Youngken, Richard (January 1982). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, Union Mill Complex". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  7. ^ "Spa Preservation Foundation Plans House Tour". Schenectady Gazette. April 23, 1983. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  8. ^ Clothier, Rachel (2009). Corinth. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-6574-3.
  9. ^ Preservation League of New York State. "2007 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award Recipients". Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  10. ^ "Welcome to Alumni House" (PDF). Empire State College. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Fire Strikes Union Avenue House, in Saratoga Springs". Schenectady Gazette. August 3, 1984. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "ANNUAL MEETING HOME FOR CHILDREN" (PDF). THE DAILY SARATOGIAN. 28 September 1905. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  13. ^ Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, Saratoga County, New York. Coronet Press. 1913.

Further reading