Brooks House, built for hotelier George Brooks
The Brooks House is a building constructed in 1871 in downtown Brattleboro with four full stories, a distinctive tower, and a French-style roof typical of Second Empire architecture. The ground level contains shops and dining establishments, while the upper floors hold apartments and spaces for two college programs.
The Brooks House was built in 1871 following fires that had destroyed much of downtown Brattleboro in the early 1800s. After serving as a hotel for seven decades, it was converted to apartments and shops in 1970 and underwent extensive restoration in 2014 following a destructive fire.
The Brooks House is named after the businessman who helped rebuild downtown Brattleboro after local disasters. Today it serves as a mixed-use space where students, shopkeepers, and residents share the building, reflecting how the community continues to use this landmark as a gathering place.
The Brooks House is located at the corner of Main Street and High Street in downtown and is easy to reach on foot. The ground-level shops and restaurants have regular business hours, while the apartments and college spaces are private.
The building originally had penthouse suites in its tower where guests like author Rudyard Kipling played poker. These exclusive rooms with views over the town were a feature that set it apart from other hotels of its time.
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