Brooks Mansion
Brooks Mansion is a Greek Revival plantation house and historic landmark in Washington, D.C.'s Brookland neighborhood.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Brooks Mansion is a Greek Revival house in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. Although the supplied subject is treated as a brand record, the authoritative Wikipedia entity is a historic building rather than a commercial brand, product line, or operating company. The property stands at 901 Newton Street Northeast, beside the Brookland–CUA Metrorail station, and is owned by the District of Columbia government. It is recognized as a Category II Landmark and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1975. The house was built around 1840 for Colonel Jehiel Brooks, a veteran of the War of 1812. Brooks married Ann Margaret Queen, whose family was associated with substantial landholdings in the District of Columbia. After returning from service at the Red River Indian Agency, Brooks and his family lived on a 246-acre plantation known as Bellair. The property later became important to the development of Brookland, the surrounding Washington suburb. In 1887, Bellair and the mansion were sold to Ida U. Marshall, who subsequently conveyed them to Benjamin F. Leighton and Richard E. Pairo. The new owners subdivided much of the former plantation, helping create the residential community that became Brookland. The mansion and approximately two acres were sold to Elizabeth Varney, who operated the building as a boarding house. The property's institutional history began in 1891, when the Marist Brothers acquired it. They expanded the structure three years later by adding a wing. The building later passed to the Benedictine Sisters. In 1905, the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, New Jersey, moved into the mansion. In 1906, they established St. Anthony's Academy for young children and operated a shelter for women there. The house therefore served not only as a residence but also as a site of education and social welfare. In 1911, the Catholic University of America began educating the sisters at the mansion. After the university began admitting women in 1928, the property was used as St. Anthony's High School. These successive religious and educational uses extended the building's community role well beyond its original plantation context. Public ownership followed in the twentieth century. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority acquired Brooks Mansion in 1970, likely in connection with transportation development in the area. The building received National Register recognition in 1975, and the District of Columbia government acquired it in 1979. In its later public role, it was used by the Public Access Corporation for the District of Columbia, commonly known as DCTV. The D.C. Preservation League designated the property an endangered place in 1999, highlighting preservation concerns associated with the historic structure. Brooks Mansion is best understood as an architectural and civic landmark whose significance derives from its Greek Revival design, its association with the Brooks plantation and the formation of Brookland, its long sequence of religious and educational uses, and its later public ownership. It does not have conventional commercial products, executives, financial results, advertising campaigns, or market operations.
History
Brooks Mansion was constructed around 1840 for Colonel Jehiel Brooks, a War of 1812 veteran who had married Ann Margaret Queen. Following his return from the Red River Indian Agency, Brooks lived with his family on a 246-acre plantation called Bellair. The house was designed in the Greek Revival tradition, an architectural style associated with the early nineteenth-century United States and characterized by classical forms and restrained monumental proportions. The Bellair estate changed hands in 1887, when it was sold to Ida U. Marshall. Marshall later sold the property to Benjamin F. Leighton and Richard E. Pairo. The latter owners subdivided the estate and developed the surrounding suburban community of Brookland. The mansion, together with roughly two acres, was separated from the larger development and sold to Elizabeth Varney, who operated it as a boarding house. In 1891, the Marist Brothers purchased the property. They enlarged the house by adding a wing in 1894. The building subsequently came into the possession of the Benedictine Sisters. The Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, New Jersey, moved there in 1905. In the following year they founded St. Anthony's Academy for young children and also operated a shelter for women, giving the former plantation house a religious, educational, and charitable function. The Catholic University of America began educating the sisters at Brooks Mansion in 1911. After women were admitted to the university in 1928, the building became St. Anthony's High School. This period reflects the mansion's integration into the network of Catholic educational institutions in Northeast Washington. The property entered public ownership in 1970, when it was acquired by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1975. The District of Columbia government bought the mansion in 1979 and later made it available for use by the Public Access Corporation for the District of Columbia, known as DCTV. The D.C. Preservation League identified Brooks Mansion as an endangered place in 1999. Today, the property remains a recognized historic landmark near the Brookland–CUA transit station.
- 1999
Named an endangered historic place
[1]The D.C. Preservation League identified Brooks Mansion as an endangered place.
- 1979
District government acquisition
[1]The District of Columbia government acquired the historic property.
- 1975
National Register listing
[1]Brooks Mansion was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 17.
- 1970
WMATA acquires the property
[1]The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority purchased Brooks Mansion.
- 1928
The mansion becomes St. Anthony's High School
[1]Following the admission of women to the Catholic University of America, Brooks Mansion was repurposed as St. Anthony's High School.
- 1911
Catholic University education program begins
[1]The Catholic University of America began educating the sisters at Brooks Mansion.
- 1906
St. Anthony's Academy and women's shelter begin operating
[1]The sisters founded an academy for young children and operated a shelter for women at the property.
- 1905
Benedictine Sisters move into the mansion
[1]The Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, New Jersey, established their residence at Brooks Mansion.
- 1891
Marist Brothers acquire the house
[1]The Marist Brothers purchased Brooks Mansion; an additional wing was added three years later.
- 1887
Bellair is sold and later subdivided
[1]The property passed to Ida U. Marshall and then to Benjamin F. Leighton and Richard E. Pairo, who subdivided the plantation and helped develop Brookland.
Products and positioning
A historic Greek Revival landmark and former plantation residence with later religious, educational, social-service, transportation, and public-media associations.
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