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.
Brookfield continued to develop in the 1930s despite the nation’s depression. In fact, the City's historic inventory in 1993 considered many 1930s buildings as "outstanding" or "of local interest". Those structures centered on Brookfield, Burleigh, Gebhardt and Lilly Roads; Greenfield and North Avenues; and other north / south roads.
Brookfield Road - A new Brookfield Elementary school was built in 1930. In later years (1958 and 2000) ‘new’ schools would replace the others. Two homes were built nearby, one at 3035 N. Brookfield Road (1931), and the other at 18250 Hoffman Ave (1932).
Burleigh Road - At the time of the historic inventory, two homes of local interest stood along Burleigh Road - 15100 Burleigh Road (1932) and 18615 Burleigh Road (1930).
Gebhardt Road - The 1993 survey described two heavily-altered 1930s homes standing a block apart at 19460 and 19500 Gebhardt Road.
Greenfield Avenue - Three homes clustered between 126th and 130th and Greenfield were built. Look for them at 2650 Greenfield Ave. (1930), 12960 Greenfield Ave. (1936) and 13030 Greenfield Ave. (1934).
Lilly Road - A home at 3440 Lilly Road (1938) and another home (with a barn) at 4115 Lilly Road (1935) still stood in 1993.
North Avenue - A double house at 14975-85 W. North Ave.
Other homes built in 1930 and 1938 stood at: 4030 N.127 St. (1930); 2345 N. 130 St. (1938); and 4060 N. 135 St. (1938)* and 440 N. Prospect Dr. (1930).
*This home was moved from Lannon about 1950.
At the time the inventory was conducted, two buildings were listed as historically outstanding. They include the Gate Houses at Wisconsin Memorial Park (13235 W. Capitol Drive) in 1931 and a home at 15450 Fieldstone Dr. (1930).
On your next trip in the area, look for these pieces of history. They may or may not be standing. The City of Brookfield does not have a historic preservation ordinance.
