TOWN OF BROOKFIELD HISTORY
A LOOK BACK...
TOWN HISTORY By Anna Antoine
When the Town of Brookfield was first established in 1839 by Robert Curran, the Town was little more than farmland. There were no roads, so travelers used deer trails to get through the area. This meant it would take people two days to travel from Milwaukee to Brookfield! (Today, it takes 15 min.) As time went on the land became more populated and developed. This included building plank roads and railroads. In 1851 a major railway was completed connecting people from Milwaukee to Waukesha. As a half-way point between the two large cities, Brookfield became a natural rest point. Visitors stayed at popular inns along Bluemound Road called the Halfway House, Dousman-Dunkel Inn and the Phoenix House. In 1885, the Eble family built an 11-room farmhouse north of Bluemound. While the farmhouse is now gone, the name Eble is still used today for the Ice Arena in the Town.
4
1836
1842
1851
Robert Curran and his family arrived and became the first settlers of the Town of Brookfield.
The first organized Town meeting was held, creating a stable form of Government for the Town.
The first railroad was completed between Milwaukee and Waukesha.
1853
1862
1892
A train depot was built as a hub between Milwaukee and Waukesha. This became known as Brookfield Junction.
The first school house was built called Pleasant Hill on the area known as Goerke's Corners.
The first Town hall was built on the corner of Calhoun Road and North Avenue. It cost $1,647.43 to build.
