Paging user Gramp

[CMStPnP]

Hey I think you live in Wisconsin I have a railfan mission for you if your willing to accept it......

I found out today the First railroad depot in Brookfield was built in 1853 and says it was later used as a dwelling (so it may or may not still exist).    My guess is it was moved off the site like the last depot which was built in 1867 and is now becomming a coffee shop (sic).

The original depot site of 1853 was approx where the branch to Waukesha splits off as that was the former junction and it states the first depot was built where the tracks crossed (Milwaukee and Prarie Du Chien  AND the Milwaukee and Watertown).    Originally with the two tracks the far track crossed over the other track on the way to Waukesha and that was the junction point (it was extended to Watertown later after the railroads were merged).    The Depot next to Brookfield road built in 1867 was built further down the tracks from the rail junction.   At least that is my interpretation.

Can you see if you can track down where the original depot was moved to and get more info on it or find out if it still exists?    If it was moved prior to 1867 it has to be fairly close to the original depot site in the Town of Brookfield.    Could also be gone now since Brookfield is not very careful about preserving it's past.

Also found out today Brookfield is the Birthplace of Caroline Quiner, otherwise known as Caroline Ingalls, wife of Charles Ingalls in the Little House on the Prarie saga.   Geez, wonder why Trains Magazine never mentions this stuff?

 

 

 

[CMStPnP]

Here is the earliest map I could find online.   Note how the rails cross in Brookfield, this was after the newer 1867 station was built.    Note the junction in Eagle, thats a branch from the Southwestern that connects in Elkhorn, it was removed in the 1930's.   On this map it is called the Western Union Railroad so that dates this map back a bit in time.    The 1853 depot is not shown but note the railroad property marked off in Town of Brookfield as well.

https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~4073~470030:Map-of-Waukesha-County,-State-of-Wi;JSESSIONID=8733fa04-e81f-44bf-b9b7-da753353ed4c?title=Search+Results%3A+List_No+equal+to+%270936.030%27&thumbnailViewUrlKey=link.view.search.url&fullTextSearchChecked=&annotSearchChecked=&dateRangeSearchChecked=&showShareIIIFLink=true&helpUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fdocumentation.lunaimaging.com%2Fdisplay%2FV75D%2FLUNA%2BViewer%23LUNAViewer-LUNAViewer&showTip=false&showTipAdvancedSearch=false&advancedSearchUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fdocumentation.lunaimaging.com%2Fdisplay%2FV75D%2FSearching%23Searching-Searching

 

[Steven Otte]

The Brookfield depot still stands, though in a different location. It doesn't show up in the aerial photos on Google Maps, because that was shot before the depot was moved. But the location is clearly marked on the map, and you can get a good look at it in Google Street View. https://goo.gl/maps/JQiqrNZtGcA1ZbZi7 

[CMStPnP]

Steven Otte

The Brookfield depot still stands, though in a different location. It doesn't show up in the aerial photos on Google Maps, because that was shot before the depot was moved. But the location is clearly marked on the map, and you can get a good look at it in Google Street View. https://goo.gl/maps/JQiqrNZtGcA1ZbZi7 

Thanks, I thought that was the first depot built as well until I came across the revised historical records for Brookfield that now appear on their website link below.........under First Settlement:

https://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us/59/About-Brookfield

Thats the second Depot built in 1867 is what was moved to make a Coffee Shop.   

Now there are three different accounts on the first depot of 1853.    First is it burned down.   Second is it was later used as a dwelling but now no longer exists.    Third is it was moved and still is a dewelling.    So I was trying to find out which.

A found a long ago map which shows an old railroad called the Fox River Valley railroad that went through Burlington then veered NE.   On that map there is a structure where the track initially bends to Waukesha, which would place it along what is now River Road.   The map was from 1855 I think, trying to find the link again.   It's just a small square with no description.    I think ultimately I will have to look though the railroad archives at the Milwaukee Public Libary.

I think the below is the first locomotive to Brookfield after the line was built.   The roundhouse I am guessing from the cream city brick is the Menominee Valley roundouse in Milwaukee.    Passenger station there was called Merrill on older timetables.    Tne neighborhood on the bluff above (there used to be a staircase up) is still called Merrill Park in Milwaukee.

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM62849

Here is an interesting history of how the seperate railroads through the Town of Brookfield Merged together.   Originally one mainline was Milwaukee and Mississippi and only went to Waukesha and Prarie Du Chen.    That mainline was the original airline to West Allis / State Fair Park and the Branchline to Waukesha and then to Prairie Du Chen.    THe other mainline through Wauwatosa and then onto Brookfield I believe was originally the Milwaukee and La Crosse.     That is the basic reason the lines split in Brookfield is originally they were two seperate railroads and the Milwaukee and Mississippi took the easier grade through Brookfield and Elm Grove.    So great history on link below on how Alexander Mitchell merged them together:

https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/railroads/

So bottom line is I cannot find any pictures or drawings on the first Brookfield Depot built.......anywhere so far.   All the Milwaukee Depots are online from first to the Reed Street Depot to the Everett Street Depot.     Have not found anything online but the 1867 depot.