Clayton “Buddy” Brooks Jr., One of Essex’s Greatest Citizens

To the Editor,

As the Town grapples with the issue of affordable housing, it is appropriate to pause, recognize and honor the passing of one of Essex’s greatest citizens Clayton “Buddy” Brooks Jr.

Buddy passed away on January 5^th 2026 surrounded by his family at the age of 95. Buddy was a carpenter, like his father, Clayton Brooks Sr. and he constructed many homes and commercial buildings in Essex and the surrounding communities.  There is a road off Atlantic Street in West Gloucester named Brooks Rd. that he developed and built several homes there.  In constructing single family homes, Buddy became practically a member of their families and they shared lifelong friendships.  He worked like a man possessed and improved the lives of many through his efforts.  He served the Town on appointed and elected positions but his contribution to Essex went far beyond this.

In the late sixties Buddy had a vision of building apartment buildings.  I am sure that at the time, his goal was not necessarily philanthropic in nature because he was above all, a capitalist.  He got an architect to draw up a blueprint for a six unit apartment building and purchased the rights to the design.  He bought land on Story Street and built four of these six unit buildings.  This is now called Brookside Apartments.  The apartments were rented almost immediately.  When other land owners saw the success of Brookside, they engaged Buddy to build similar buildings for them.  Over the next ten years Buddy built seven six-unit apartment buildings including 158 and 236 Western Ave, Landing Apartments on Main Street as well as one at 11 Apple Street.  These buildings now constitute about 100 affordable apartments that have allowed young people to move out of their family home and have a place of their own, or elderly homeowners to sell their homes that they could no longer manage and live in a clean, safe and affordable space in Essex where the maintenance is done by others.  Unfortunately these units are not considered “affordable” by the state because they are not “subsidized” by the taxpayers.  Maybe so, but this housing, being privately owned and managed has avoided the crime and unrest inherent in other “subsidized housing.”

So this is Buddy’s legacy.  Providing the housing necessary for generations of Essex residents to remain Essex residents.  We all owe him a debt of gratitude. Better late than never.