BREWSTER, NY – This year, the Putnam County Historian’s Office has republished Willitt C. Jewell's Putnam County. During World War II, Jewell wrote a new history of Putnam County that appeared in 1946 only as chapters in a much larger reference work, Southeastern New York. The new book augments Jewell’s original work with an introduction, annotations, and corrections; and it is illustrated with more than 200 additional photographs, maps and archival material drawn from the Willitt C. Jewell and Dorothy G. Jewell Collections and other holdings of the County Historian, local museums, and historical societies.

"This was a labor of love for our office and the community," said County Historian Jennifer Cassidy. "We're very excited to present this wealth of knowledge to the public.”

The book can be purchased online via the county website at PutnamCountyNY.gov/county-historian, or you can contact the Historian’s office at 845-808-1420 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jewell’s work picks up where William S. Pelletreau left off in his 1886 History of Putnam County, New York and captures local life up and into the second World War. He covers new technology including the telephone and streetlights, history of the granges, churches, schools, banking and industry, fire departments, reservoirs, the summer-home developments of Lake Carmel, Putnam Lake and Lake Peekskill, and more.  His coverage of the home front and local war effort during World War II, is an unsurpassed source. And he added the story of Sybil Ludington’s ride, a first for any published history of the County. 

Born and raised in Carmel, shortly after graduating Carmel High School in 1906, Jewell landed the job as a “printer’s devil”, or apprentice, at The Putnam County Courier. He then married Frances Grant, and they had one daughter, Dorothy. 

Jewell was a member of the Drew M. E. Church, a participant in local politics, an elected member of the Carmel Board of Education, a charter member of the Carmel Fire Department (serving over 50 years), founder and treasurer of the Putnam County Federal and Loan Association, a founder of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, secretary of Raymond Hill Cemetery for 35 years, and an active Rotarian. He served as clerk to the Putnam County Board of Supervisors and as secretary of the county’s Planning and Development Commission.

When James A. Zickler, publisher of the Courier, died in 1949, Willitt C. Jewell purchased the time-honored newspaper and worked alongside his daughter Dorothy, who served as managing editor. Although in failing health in 1966, he celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Courier.  He died on November 14th of that year, ending a long and distinguished career as a newspaperman, public servant, and historian. 

Nearly thirty years after her father’s death, Dorothy Grant Jewell, donated a large photograph collection as well as personal papers, including his handwritten manuscript on local history, to the Putnam County Historian’s Office. The Jewell Collection spans over one hundred years of Putnam County history and many of the photographs and negatives are also held by local history organizations including the collection of the Town of Carmel Historical Society.

Jewell’s Southeastern New York was originally published as a three-volume reference work that also included Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties. Willitt C. Jewell’s Putnam County features a helpful introduction, annotations and corrections by the Historian’s Office and consists of many additional photographs, illustrations, maps and archival material.