*  Fire Trucks, Flight for Life and more!

On Sunday, October 5th, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, the Town of Brookfield Fire Department is again excited to open its doors for a fun and free family event! 

This is an annual event going back decades to promote the National Fire Prevention Association's (NFPA) annual Fire Prevention Week.   This year's theme is preventing home fires. 

Flight for Life will be making a special landing at 12:00 noon; this will give guests a chance to get up close and meet the flight crew as well as see this incredible piece of machinery.

There will be live demonstrations on the use of many tools that the fire department relies on daily such as the jaws of life at 1:15pm.

If children are in need of new bike helmets, this is the place to shop!  We have many styles to choose from all for only $10.00 each.

The town has many special surprises this year for the kids! Balloons, treats, a giant fire truck slide and more!

Lunch will be available all day, hot dogs, soda, cotton candy and popcorn.

Pet moms and dads should stop by and ask for free ASPCA window clings which notify emergency personnel that there is a pet in the home that needs help too!

Town residents who are a senior citizens or parents of young children qualify for a free smoke detector and battery at this special event. They can even schedule to have fire personnel stop at their home to do a free fire inspection.

 

*  Enjoy a Special Exhibit

The last dates to visit the British Doll House Exhibit at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (Brookfield) are Sundays, October 5 and 19.  If you haven't seen this private collection yet, make sure you do.  The 1843 Stagecoach Inn is open from 1 to 4 pm.  Consider joining the Elmbrook Historical Society to help preserve the history of our communities.  Learn more about this non-profit group on Sunday, October 19 by calling 262 782 4057

* Take pleasure in the Local Market

The city's Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings through October.  Make sure you enjoy the seasonal crops, products and flowers.   

Some readers might recall past posts about the Elmbrook Historical Society and its Dousman Stagecoach Inn.  The 1843 Greek Revival Inn once stood on the corner of Watertown Plank and Bluemound Road.  This stately home is Brookield's only landmark on the National Registry of Historic Places.The home was given to the city in 1980 and it was relocated to a city park..

The non-profit Elmbrook Historical Society raised funds to move the home, build a bridge to the site about a half mile north. After the move in 1981, members of the historical society restored the inn to the 1850s-1870s when the stagecoach inn was operated by the "Browns."

Sunday, August 3 is a special day.  From 1 to 4 pm:

• You can enjoy an old-time Ice Cream Social on the grounds.
• Unless it rains, there will be a display of classic cars.
•  A 40" Sony HDTV will be raffled off.  At 2 pm. the winning raffle ticket will be drawn. The winner does not need to be present to win.

(The television was donated by Becker-Ritter Funeral Home and Flanner's Home Entertainment.) 

• In addition, guided tours of the Inn will be given.
• A private collection of 1860s British Doll Houses is on display.

There's a minimal charge for the ice cream and no charge for the classic car show.  Raffle tickets are $10 each or $20 for three. Admission to the Inn with a guided tours is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children or $10 family. 

The Stagecoach Inn is at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield.  The site is on the west side between Bluemound and Gebhardt Roads.  Onsite parking is available.

Please call the Elmbrook Historical Society about raffle tickets (262 784 4057). 

Staying close to home this weekend?

If you like chess, there's an opportunity for you at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn on Sunday, July 20.  The Waukesha Chess Club is hosting a Chess Challenge for people of all ages -- and skills.  It's a free event from 1 to 4 pm. - and it will be held indoors.

If you like Model A's, enjoy them at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn on Sunday, July 20.  It's a free event from 1 to 4 pm.

If you enjoy history, take a guided tour of the 19th Century stagecoach inn.  You'll learn how early Brookfield residents lived, ate and slept over a century ago, about stagecoach travel, wood plank roads and overnights at local inns. Plus, there's an outstanding exhibit of 19th Century dollhouses in the ballroom.  Guided tours are given between 1 and 4 pm.  The tour of the inn is $4 adults, $1 children, $3 seniors and $10 families.

You can also see the smokehouse, ice house, shanty and the 1852 Donaldson house. As you enter the grounds, you'll see the prairie which once covered much of undeveloped Brookfield.

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn is at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, Brookfield, between Bluemound and Gebhardt Roads. For more information, call the Elmbrook Historical Society at 262 782 4057 or visit www.ElmbrookHistoricalSociety.org.

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn and the Elmbrook Historical Society will host the unveiling of a painting by area artist Scott Hefti, who works with Brookfield-based North Shore Bank to create one-of-a-kind watercolors depicting the communities in which it operates.

Hefti's colorful Brookfield painting features the historic inn along with its neighbor, North Shore Bank's corporate headquarters. The bank is donating the artwork to the Historical Society to celebrate the bank's 85th birthday and a unique bit of shared history.  For 138 years, the inn stood at what is now the intersection of Bluemound and Moorland roads.

When North Shore Bank's new headquarters was built on that site in 1981, the Elmbrook Historical Society moved the inn a little way up the road.  Hefti's painting, with the historic and modern buildings and the preserved green space that lies between them, celebrates the past and present of the Brookfield community.

Hefti, along with representatives of the bank and the Historical Society, will unveil the donated painting during a special reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11, at the inn, 1075 N. Pilgrim Parkway.  Guided tours are offered at 5:45 and 6:15 pm.

The public is welcome to attend and talk with the artist and Historical Society representatives about this new piece of art celebrating two Brookfield institutions.  Reserve your spot now - just contact Brenna Kriviskey Sadler at (414) 276-6237.

The Elmbrook Historical Society also hosts public guided tours at the Stagecoach Inn on the first and third Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. from May through October.  In celebration of Father's Day, June 15, admission is free for all fathers.

...Is the theme of the month-long celebration sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  "This Place Matters" provides an opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country's cities and states and enable more American's to become involved in the growing preservation movement.  In Brookfield, Preservation Month - May 2008 - will  be observed by the Elmbrook Historical Society.

The Elmbrook area dates back to 1839.  When Brookfield Township was formed it consisted of 36 acres - of farmland and prairie.  The town of Brookfield is smaller than it was over 100 years ago, but it still exists.  Portions were assimilated into the city of Brookfield (1954) and village of Elm Grove (1955).

The Elmbrook Historical Society was formed in 1977 to preserve the 1843 Dousman Stagecoach Inn, once located on Watertown Plank Road and Bluemound Road.  The home is Brookfield's only preserved landmark on the National Historic Registry.    The grass roots effort that saved the Inn continues to support and maintain it.  Members share our area's rich history through:

• Guided tours (on the first and third Sunday afternoons) from May through October.
• Sponsoring the Civil War Re-enactment this weekend (May 3 and 4) from 10 am to 4 pm. Several homes in Brookfield date to the Civil War era.
• Hosting free lectures on historic topics, such as "Ten Chimneys & The Lunts." Join us May 19 at the Brookfield Park & Recreation Center at 7 pm.
• A Memorial Day ceremony at Brookfield's Oak Hill Cemetery (Brookfield Road north of Capitol). Many early settlers were buried there, including Nathan Hatch, a revolutionary war soldier.

These and other activities throughout the year help individuals understand the importance of history. Each family (whether dating back to early Brookfield, or not) is creating its own memories and traditions.  Gregory Filardo said, "...What greater homage to our native homelands could we pay than to preserve buildings in remembrance of our ancestry or roots?  As we reach for the stars let us not forget where we came from."

The historical society has also encouraged other historic preservation efforts - such as "Old St. Mary's Church" in Elm Grove. Once slated for demolition, the church is now home to Torke Wirth Pujara, an architectural firm.  It also appears that VK Development is sparing the Ruby family farm house and pony barn from demolition.

For more information about the Elmbrook Historical Society, visit http://www.elmbrookhistoricalsociety.org/ or telephone 262 782 4057.

The city of Brookfield does not have a historic preservation ordinance. 

Each family builds its own traditions for the holiday.  Some are carried over from past generations and are cherished. Some are newly adopted.

This year, make time for "Christmas at the Inn" on December 1 and 2. The Dousman Stagecoach Inn, built in 1843, will be decorated for the 1840s holidays.  Inside, you'll find feather trees, an old-fashioned Christmas tree with handmade ornaments, a collection of precious baby dolls in vignettes, antique cooky cutters and more amid a fully furnished Stagecoach Inn.

Taste test some of Mrs. Brown's soup, cornbread and homemade baked items. Enjoy music of the recorder, dulcimer and guitar that fills the air. Especially for children are Father Christmas' stories and hands-on crafts. Adults may enjoy the bake sale (with jams and jellies) and a silent auction of gift baskets.

On Saturday, December 1 only:

• Holiday photos will be professionally taken in an antique sleigh. The sitting fee ($39.95) is a donation to the Elmbrook Historical Society and includes admission to "Christmas at the Inn."  Call Nancy Rubly, Portraits on Pilgrim, (262-860 0777) for an appointment.
• Stephen Parr's "Charles Dickens Reads" at 2 pm.
• The Rosewood Quartet (led by music teacher Dr. Denice Haney) will perform at 2:30 pm. The 8th grade Quartet members are also members Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn, at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound and Gebhardt Rds.) is Brookfield's only building on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is cared for by the Elmbrook Historical Society a 501(c)(3) organization.

December 1 - 10 am to 4 pm.; December 2 - Noon to 4 pm.  $4 Adults, $1 Children (5 or older).  Onsite parking.

Call 262 786 2321 for more information or check www.ElmbrookHistoricalSociety.org.

 

Promotions for the holiday season are beginning earlier and earlier.  For many people it’s a frenzied and stressful time of year.  Planning ahead helps.  So mark your calendar for December 1 and 2 for something you will enjoy and solve some of your holiday needs. 

 

Take time to visit "Christmas at the Inn" at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn (Brookfield).  Open your eyes and enjoy a step back in time on December 1 and 2. But, before walking through the doors of the historic inn:

 

Just picture this.  Your family photograph in an antique sleigh.  Saturday, December 1^st only from 10 am to 4 pm. Schedule your appointment with   photographer Nancy Rubley (Portraits on Pilgrim) at  262 860-0777.  The $39.95 sitting fee is a donation to the Elmbrook Historical Society.  Print your own photo or order 25 holiday cards (and get 25 free) $19.95. Mention your photo sitting and get free admission to “Christmas at the Inn.”

 

Once inside, experience the joys of Christmas past. 

The sights of Christmas include cherished dolls displayed in vignettes, feather trees, antique toys (1850s to 1950), an old-fashioned Christmas tree, a display of cookie cutters and more throughout the Inn.

The sounds include music from the dulcimer, guitar and recorders and. On Sunday at 2 pm, “Charles Dickens” (Stephen Parr) will delight guests with his dramatic readings.

 

Father Christmas’ story-telling and hands on crafts will prove to be a child’s delight.

 

Enjoy the scents from the kitchen. Taste-test samples of the Mrs. Brown’s soup, juice, homemade cookies and sweet treats.  Then buy specially made cookies, breads and treats for your own family and friends.

“Shop” for that special someone.  A silent auction of gift baskets is waiting for you.

December 1 from 10 am to 4 pm.; December 2 from Noon to 4 pm. $4 Adults, $1 Children. Free parking. Call 262 782-4057 for more information. 

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn is at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound and Gebhardt Rds), Brookfield.  Its caretakers are members of the Elmbrook Historical Society, a (501)(c)(3). 

It’s a hidden treasure in Brookfield – the Dousman Stagecoach Inn.  It was built in 1843, five years before Wisconsin became a state.  It once stood on the wood plank road that extended from Milwaukee to Watertown. 

 

During the stagecoach days, hundreds of travelers stayed at the Inn when making the 58 mile journey between Milwaukee to Watertown.

 

It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is Brookfield’s only historic structure.

 

It was owned by the Behling family for nearly one hundred years.  Behling gave his home to the city of Brookfield when North Shore Bank bought the land. The city created a public park for the building. 

 

The city leases the home to the Elmbrook Historical Society.  The lease specifies that the Society is responsible for all costs associated with the building.  This included the substantial costs of moving the structure in 1981 and the cost of restoring the building to its days as a Stagecoach Inn. All traces of the 20^th century were removed from this historic treasure.

 

The society continues to maintain and care for the home.  Membership dues contribute to the expense of operating the home.  Most fund raising is accomplished through public and private tours, and events such as the Civil War Re-enactment (in May), Days Gone By (October) and Christmas at the Inn (December).

 

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn is in its 164^th year.  The original siding is decaying and requires complete restoration.  The cost exceeds $115,000.

 

The Elmbrook Historical Society, a (501) (c3) organization needs your help.  Please send your tax-deductible contribution to:   Elmbrook Historical Society; Capital Campaign; P.O. Box 292; Brookfield, WI 53008-0292

 

Help preserve this irreplaceable historic treasure.

The Packers play Sunday night, so your family (and you) have a whole day to enjoy Fall activities.

One event you shouldn't miss is "Days Gone By" at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn in Brookfield. The 1843 Greek Revival Inn once stood on the corner of what is now Bluemound and Pilgrim Parkway.  It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

There's fun inside the Inn:  A G-scale model train will extend the length of the Inn's ballroom.  Nearby there is a collection of children's antique toys, and photographs of early Brookfield.  While there, be sure to visit the bedrooms, the men's tap room, "ladies parlor," dining room and state-of-the-art kitchen. 

Children and adults can enjoy a one-room school.  Listen for the ringing of the old Woodside school bell.  Lessons will be taught by "schoolmarm" Jean Stackpole (Brookfield) at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30.   More lessons may be added.

Since it is now Fall, it's time to start thinking about winter.

Outside, our early settlers (Tom and Mary Ramstack) will be getting ready for Winter.  They'll need much "hands on" help from on-lookers.  You'll find an ice house nearby and you can even view antique carriages at the Smithy's Shoppe.  Listen to the banjo music (after 1 pm).

• Stop at the food stand
• Take part in 'hands on" activities
• Race with a "stuffed animal" - remember to bring your favorite
• Browse / shop at a tent full of antiques, collectibles, crafts and food products
• Find a pumpkin (from Simon's market) to take home.
• Take a chance on winning a handmade queen sized quilt

Sunday, October 7, from 10 am to 4 pm.  The address is 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound and Gebhardt Road). On-site parking.  $5 Adults, $3 Children (5 or over). 

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

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'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.

The flags along Calhoun Road near the City offices are a symbol of patriotism. For some reason they stood out this week, although they may have been erected for Memorial Day. Memorial Day starts me reminiscing. How I wish I knew about my great-grandparents lives in Brookfield during the mid 1800s. How I resolve to share my life with my family.

Spend time with your family tomorrow – and start sharing stories of your lives. And if you want to know what early Brookfield was like, visit the Dousman Stagecoach Inn tomorrow afternoon. Built in 1843, it once stood on the old Watertown Plank Road. It’s the only building in Brookfield that is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guided tours are given from 1 - 4 p.m., the first and third Sundays of the month. Admission is $4 Adults; $1 Children; $3 Seniors; and $10 families. Children under 5 are free. The “Flags of Our Forefathers” exhibit is on display only three more Sundays.

The historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn is at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound & Gebhardt Roads).

Group tours may be arranged by calling 262 782-4057.

The 1843 Dousman Stagecoach Inn is Brookfield’s only National Historic Landmark. It is located at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, midway between Bluemound and Gebhardt Roads. On June 24, the Elmbrook Historical Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary at the home’s current location.

John Behling, whose family lived in the home for nearly 100 years, gave the building to the Elmbrook Historical Society. It in turn, raised funds to move the building from the corner of Bluemound and Moorland Roads.

On June 20, an historic site in Elm Grove celebrated an open house. Built in the 1920s, “Old St. Mary’s Church” was nearly razed. A small group of people are responsible for saving the building. Newly restored, it is now home to Torke, Wirth, Pujara, Ltd.

There’s another property in Brookfield worthy of National Historic Landmark status - Ruby Farms. The farmhouse on Calhoun Road was built about 1860 by one of Brookfield’s early settlers, Jacob Ruby. According to the Historical Inventory of Brookfield, Ruby Farms' barn with cupola west of the house is one of the best in the Township. The farmhouse and the horse barn are important community landmarks.

The Ruby Farms property was sold to VK Development in 2005. Commercial development plans have not been publicly shared.

The city claims Calhoun Road needs to be widened to accommodate the anticipated freeway interchange. Although construction of the freeway interchange will not occur until at least 2010, the city government sees an imminent need to widen Calhoun next year.

As the first two examples show, historic buildings can be preserved. Vision is required. Does the widening of Calhoun Road – and the proposed development of sixty acres - need to result in another loss of a piece of our heritage?