The Brookfield Scene

Earlier this week, the Town of Brookfield announced development plans for the area near Goerke's Corners.

The timing is right.  The Marcus Theater complex is vacant, and the Menards complex will soon become vacant.

Current plans call for a mix of residential and commercial development that wisely uses the open space available.  A road that runs parallel to Bluemound (but well south of it) will be built  The road will intersect with Janacek.

Like many of the city's plans, the development requires higher density.  Unlike the city, the Town's development won't require a tax-incremental district.

There are many signs of fall.  The school year started, tree leaves are turning color, there are fewer daylight hours, crisper nighttime temperatures and pumpkins. 

Another sure sign is Elmbrook Historical Society's "Days Gone By" on October 7.

Inside the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, learn about one-room schools from school-marm Jean Stackpole; tour the inn where many weary stagecoach travelers stayed over night; and admire the quilts on the beds.  In the ballroom, enjoy a G-scale model train that spans the ballroom, admire an exhibit of Children's Antique Toys (1860-1950) and see photographs of early Brookfield.

Outside, see (and help) early Brookfield settlers get ready for winter; visit and learn about ice houses; and visit the smoke house, toll booth, a Smithy's Shoppe (with carriages) and visitor's center. 

There will be hands-on crafts and activities for kids, and a "Stuffed Animal Race" for kids of all ages. (Bring your own stuffed animal.)

While on the grounds, buy a raffle ticket for a handmade start-patterned quilt, find something to eat, browse through a tent filled with crafts, food items, antiques & collectibles and choose a pumpkin.

It all takes place on the park-like grounds of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound and Gebhardt Roads) on October 7 from 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission $5 Adults, $3 Children (5 or over).  On site parking.

Call 262 782 4057 or check www.ElmbrookHistoricalSociety.org. 

It started as a deer path and then became an Indian trail through the forest.

In 1836 it became a “military road” to move military supplies and soldiers between forts and outposts.

In 1848 investors began constructing Watertown Plank Road – a 58 mile wood plank road between Milwaukee and Watertown.  Eventually, a portion of Watertown Plank Road became Bluemound Road.

In 1919, Bluemound Road became a two lane roadway overlaid in concrete pavement (approx. 11' travel lanes).  About 1,900 people lived in the 36 square mile Brookfield Township about that time.

In 1958, the road was expanded to four lane divided highway. It became known as “Bluemound Super Highway.”  The population of the city and town of Brookfield was 21,802 according to the 1960 census.

Between 1960 - 1980 a third west-bound lane was added between Janacek and Barker Roads.  The roadway was resurfaced in 1980.

In 1990 / 91 the current roadway configuration was constructed.  The road was expanded to three lanes with middle and auxiliary lanes for turning.  An estimated 39,675 people lived in the city and town of Brookfield.  In thirty years population had doubled.

In 1996 Goerke’s Corners was reconstructed.

In 2006, the Department of Transportation decided the road was unsafe.  Its plan is to close some medians and create frontage roads.  The frontage roads would reduce the number of driveway entrances to / from businesses along the route.  Town government provided comments to the DOT, the city chose not to.  The department's plans remain unchanged.

Stay tuned to 2008. 

It's been some time since a train stopped in Brookfield.

This one arrives Sunday, October 7, at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn. For railroad affectionados, the train is a G-scale model and it will wind its way across the length of historic inn's ballroom, courtesy of the Wisconsin Garden Railroad Society. 

It's all part of the Elmbrook Historical Society's "Days Gone By".  This fun-filled day for families lets us reflect on the.lives of our parents and grandparents..

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn is on the National Register of Historic Place.  The 1843 Greek Revival Inn once stood where North Shore Bank is now located on Bluemound .  The Society saved the home from road widening in 1980 and moved to its current site.  The Inn has been fully restored to its stagecoach days when a wood plank road extended from Milwaukee to Watertown and when weary travelers stayed overnight.

The day's events include self-guided tours of the Inn.  Be sure to visit every room and enjoy the "Children's Antique Toy" exhibit, the old Brookfield photographs and the model train in the ballroom.  There's more...

There will be a chance to attend a one-room school (with a School Marm), to learn how early settlers got ready for winter, to see an ice house and visit other outbuildings. There will be banjo music, hands-on crafts for children, games and a raffle for a handmade star-pattern quilt.  Food, antiques & collectibles and pumpkins (from Simon's) will be available.  Kids of all ages should bring a stuffed animal for the "Stuffed Animal Race."

"Days Gone By"  - October 7 - 10 am to 4 pm at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound & Gebhardt Rds).  Park on site. Adults $5, Children $3 (5 or older).

Call 262 782 4057 for more information or check www.ElmbrookHistoricalSociety.org.

Enjoy Agatha Christie's classic, "And Then There Were None" at the Wilson Center this weekend - or next.  The play is brought to us by the Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa and the Brookfield Players. Director Laura LaPinske and cast are thrilled to bring this performance to life. 

Performance times are:

• September 7 at 8 pm
• September 8 at 2:30 pm and 8 pm
• September 14 at 8 pm
• September 15 at 2:30 pm and 8 pm

Call the Wilson Center at 262-781-9520 for ticket reservations or order tickets online at www.wilson-center.com.  Ticket prices are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students.