Janet, a Town of Brookfield resident, has lived in the Elmbrook area for nearly 40 years and is an avid gardener and volunteer. Her blog focuses on the city and town of Brookfield – past, present and future.
Continuing our look at the Brookfield Township’s Development, we’ll move into the 1870s. The Civil War had ended.
Brookfield Road was the hub of activity. A home on nearby Milwaukee Avenue was built. Three homes were built along Brookfield Road, a carpenter shop was added and a brick building replaced the frame Putney school that had burned. It served as a school from 1876 to 1931 and is now a private residence. It is at the corner of Brookfield Road and North Avenue.
To the north east, a home was built at 18385 Lisbon Road.
A second Dixon School was built on North Avenue to replace the one school that burned. This brick building still stands on the south side of North Avenue and Pilgrim Road. A home and barns were built west of the school. Gebhardt family members built homes nearby -- on Brojan Drive and on Gebhardt Road.
A farmhouse was built on 124th and Center Street.
The Bluemound Road area also grew. A farmhouse was built on the 186-acre Dechant farm just south of Bluemound Road. A home was also built nearby at 152nd and Bluemound.
The 1870s home owners included the Gebhardts, Dolph, Dechant, Monte, Shablow and Schwelich. The following buildings are categorized as being locally outstanding or of local interest by the Historic Inventory. The initial "c" means circa, or about.
LOCAL OUTSTANDING
John Gebhardt Residence - 15735 Brojan Drive c.1870
Residence - 2500 N. Brookfield Rd. 1875-1885
Residence - 2730 N. Brookfield Rd. c.1870
George Dolph Residence - 2745 N. Brookfield Rd. c.1870
Dechant Farm House - 100 S. Dechant Road c.1870
George Gebhardt Home - 16265 Gebhardt Rd. 1874
LOCAL INTEREST
J. Monte Residence - 15285 Bluemound Road c.1870
Putney School - 2300 N. Brookfield Road 1876
Carpenter Shop - 3135 N. Brookfield Road 1870
J. Shablow Farm House - 12405 Center St. c.1870s
Residence - 18385 Lisbon Rd. c.1870
Residence - 18730 Milwaukee Ave. c.1870s
Dixon School - 15565 W. North Ave. c.1870
K. Schwelich Residence & Barns - 17115 W. North Ave. c.1870
When driving around Brookfield, look for these locations. Email me if you have any insights to share.
