The Brookfield Scene

This series is based on the Historical Inventory the city of Brookfield commissioned in 1993. While the intent was to develop a historic preservation ordinance, none was adopted. At that time, these outstanding and notable properties were still standing.

As you drive around the Brookfield area, help solve the mystery of whether these sites still exist during the current era of tear downs and mega-mansions.

Construction continued near Brookfield Junction and ventured westward. Two commercial buildings at 2910 N. Brookfield Road and 2965 N. Brookfield Road joined others about 1920. A home at 18320 Hoffman Ave. was built in 1927. A home at 18320 Hoffman Ave. was built in 1927.

In 1929, two properties were constructed for Robert J. Kieckhefer: his home and a Finnish log cabin ("Pistaka"). Their respective addresses are 19160 Still Point Trail and roughly 193rd and North Ave. Remarkably, a nearby Indian village was found during construction. Both homes were considered “outstanding” by the 1993 historic inventory.

A home deemed “notable” was built at 19600 Gebhardt Road in 1927. Sitting along Bluemound Rd., near Calhoun, was the old Radio Transmission Station (1927). The tower had been a city fixture for many years. The city fathers and many area residents are now awaiting the VK development.

Moving eastward, the historically outstanding Crowley Residence at 15660 Pomona Road was built about 1929. Two other outstanding homes were built at 14360 Greenfield Ave. (1923) and 14040 W. North Ave. (1928).

A 1920 hunting cabin was built at 1020 Tower Hill Drive. Further east were homes at 325 N. Westmoor Dr. (1928) and 370 N. Elm Grove Road (1922).

Three properties were built near Lilly Road. The homes at 14360 Greenfield Ave. (1923) and 14040 W. North Ave. (1928) were listed as outstanding on the historic inventory. The 1926 home at 2345 Lilly Road was considered notable.


If you know anything about these sites or the families that owned them, please send an email to JW-BLOG@wi.rr.com.

The Brookfield Township information in this series is based on the city-sponsored Brookfield Reconnaissance Survey from 1993.

The Brookfield Junction area continued to expand between 1900 and 1920. Still standing in 1993 were a saloon (Charley’s Place), blacksmith shop (Becker’s Blacksmith Shop), and two commercial buildings. Early residents could pay their taxes and order a beer at Charley’s Place. The "commercial building" at 2910 N. Brookfield Road was the old "Railroad Hotel".

Another home was built on Brookfield Road, and two others built on Hoffman Avenue. One existing home (at 2960 N. Brookfield Road) underwent renovations.

Continue your adventure into Brookfield’s history. Drive north on Brookfield Road and look for these buildings.

Residence - 2460 N. Brookfield Road….c.1900
Commercial Building - 2910 N. Brookfield Road….c.1920
Becker Blacksmith Shop - 2915 N. Brookfield Road…c.1900
Charley's Place, Saloon Residence - 2925 N. Brookfield Road…1905
Residence - 2960 N. Brookfield Road… c.1885-90/1918
Commercial Building - 2965 N. Brookfield Road…c.1920
Residence -18720 Hoffman Ave….1917
Keller Residence -18700 Hoffman Ave…1904

You may also find a home north of Capitol Drive on Calhoun (4240 N. Calhoun Rd.) that was built in 1915.

The Brookfield Township continued to grow in the 1880s and 1890s.

Nine homes were built in the Brookfield Junction area alone - on Brookfield Road, Hoffman Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue. Other homes were spread around the Brookfield area during these two decades – from 124th Street to Barker Road and from Burleigh Road to Greenfield Avenue.

One home was moved from the northwest corner of North Avenue and Pilgrim Road to Burleigh Road. Later (in 1918) an addition would be put on the newly built home at 2960 N. Brookfield Road.

The Scheetz residence on Greenfield Avenue and the Hoffman residence on Hoffman Avenue were considered “locally outstanding” in the Historic Inventory conducted by the City of Brookfield in 1993. The others were considered “locally notable.”

Brookfield Junction Area
John Hoffman Residence - 18415 Hoffman Ave. …c1885-1895

Residence - 2480 N. Brookfield Road …c.1890
Residence - 2685 N. Brookfield Road …c.1880
Dolph Residence - 2765 N. Brookfield Road …c.1897
Residence - 2960 N. Brookfield Road …c.1885-90

Residence - 18640 Milwaukee Ave. …c.1890
Residence - 18660 Milwaukee Ave. …c.1880
Residence - 18665 Milwaukee Ave. …1880
Residence - 18680 Milwaukee Ave. …1888-92

Other Parts of the Township
Residence - 2845 N. 124 Street …c.1890
Residence - 14660 Burleigh Road …c.1890
Farm House & Silo - 4365 N. Pilgrim Road …c.1880-1890

Charles Scheetz Jr. Residence & Barn - 16650 Greenfield Ave. … c.1890
A. Hassler Residence - 18650 Honey Creek Dr. …1880
Chapin Residence - 18730 Rolling Meadow Court …1890
Residence - 1460 N. Barker Road …1890

The newcomers to Brookfield during this time included the Scheetz, Hoffman, Dolph, Hassler and Chapin families.

Did you recognize these names or find these historic sites? Please email me at JW-BLOG@wi.rr.com.

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.