In the 19th century, the small agricultural community of Princeton, Massachusetts, became a desirable summer destination, where city-dwellers with means would travel to the countryside for fresh mountain breezes and sweeping views of nature. What became this large Second Empire style building, was originally built in 1822 as the residence of John Brooks (1789-1863), who opened the Wachusett House next door as a summer hotel. After decades of growth, the Wachusett House was purchased by Phineas A. Beaman (1819-1894) and his son, Algernon Beaman (1847-1919), who oversaw massive improvements to the aged hotel. The main hotel was renovated and expanded, with a bowling alley and laundry building constructed on the site. The old Brooks House was renovated in 1883 and given its mansard roof and Victorian era trim, to serve as the 41-room annex to the Wachusett House. The business grew by the end of the 19th century, with the Beaman family owning the entire Wachusett Mountain, and building the first carriage road up to the summit. In 1910, the historic Wachusett House burned and the property sold. The only Annex is the only remaining part of the original hotel on the site.
