Elmbrook Historical Society

The Elmbrook Historical Society (EHS) is a non-profit educational organization founded to research the history of Brookfield and Elm Grove and to collect, preserve and exhibit objects from our past. The Elmbrook Historical Society is an affiliate of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

In 1980, John Behling gave the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, his family home for nearly 100 years, to the Elmbrook Historical Society. In 1981, it was moved by the Elmbrook Historical Society to its present location at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It is Brookfield’s only registered National Historic Landmark.

Since then, the Elmbrook Historical Society has fully restored the 1843 Greek Revival Inn with authentic Wisconsin antiques and artifacts to its stagecoach era of 1857 to 1871. In addition, outbuildings such as a Wagon/ Blacksmith Shop, a Smoke House, an Ice House and a log/frame Visitors Center and Gift Shop have been added.

The income from tours of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, Elmbrook Historical Society special events and donations from organizations and individuals enable the Elmbrook Historical Society to continue to work to preserve the history of Brookfield and Elm Grove.

The Elmbrook Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) non profit educational organization. All donations to the Elmbrook Historical Society are tax deductible as defined by law and are sincerely appreciated. Donor forms are available at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn’s Visitor Center and Gift Shop or by calling (262) 782-4057.

The Elmbrook Historical Society currently has over 200 members with no paid staff. Our members volunteer in many ways:

• They serve as tour guides and as gift shop volunteers.
• They archive documents, collect artifacts and record information of historical interest from area residents,
• They volunteer to help maintain the buildings and the gardens at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn,
• They plan and publicize lectures of historical interest and special fund raising events such as Civil War Days and Christmas at the Inn,
• They serve as bakers and as volunteers at our special events,
• They recruit new members, and serve as liaisons to the community

Please join us! (Membership Application)

Museum Tours – Dousman Stagecoach Inn

Tours of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum and its outbuildings - a Wagon/ Blacksmith Shop, a Smoke House, an Ice House and a log/ frame Visitors Center and Gift Shop as well as an opportunity to view a special exhibit take place from May through October on the first & third Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. On the tour, costumed docents tell stories about the families who lived there and point out artifacts of historic interest.

Fees to tour the Dousman Stagecoach Inn and its facilities are:  Adults $4.00,  Children $1.00,  Families $10.00, Seniors (60 Plus) $3.00.

Group Tours

Advance reservations are requested for group tours, guided tours and special children’s tours. Optional box lunches can also be arranged.

Opportunities also exist for small groups to enjoy a catered brunch in the dining room or to hold a meeting at the Inn followed by a private tour of the Inn.

For more information or to arrange a tour, please call (262) 782-4057.

Historic Setting for Photographs

Imagine having your wedding, anniversary or birthday pictures taken at the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn. If you want an historic setting for your photographs, please call (262)782-4057 to make arrangements.

Current Exhibit at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn

Currently on display at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn through October, 2008 is a collection of British antique miniature dollhouses lovingly owned by the late Mrs. Donald Porter. Mrs. Porter who lived in Elm Grove, Wisconsin was an avid miniature collector. The dollhouses she collected reflect her passion for authentic detail.

These miniature masterpieces reflect rooms of actual houses that were recognizable to the children who played with them. Tiny furnishings of china, glass, furniture even wall paintings were authentically created, many by German craftsman. Dollhouses, such as these were popular in wealthy homes in Great Britain and the European Continent in the 1700's through the 1900's.

Guided Tours

Costumed docents lead tours of the home and tell stories about families who lived there.  Other features include a special exhibit; carriages and tools in the blacksmith house; a log home once located at Barker and North Avenues; an ice house, smoke house, and school bell from Woodland school.

The Dousman Stagecoach Inn, located at 1075 N. Pilgrim Parkway (between Bluemound and Gebhardt Roads) is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Open May-Oct, First and Third Sundays, 1-4 pm. Fee $4 adults, $1 children, $10 families, $3 Seniors (60 plus).

Advance reservations requested for group tours. Phone 262-782-4057
Special children’s tours.  Phone 262-782-4057

Guided tours for groups.  Enjoy a historic tour and a box lunch.  Lunch is optional.  Call 262 782 4057 for information.

Special Opportunities for Small Groups –

Enjoy a catered brunch in the dining room, followed by a private tour of the Inn.

Consider holding a meeting amid history at the Inn.

Historic Setting for Photographs -

Picture your special event at the 1843 Inn

 Want a historic background for your photographs?  Call 262 782 4057.

2008 Meetings / Programs & Special Events

Win a Sony 40” flat screen high definition LCD television courtesy of
Becker Ritter Funeral Home & Flanners Home Entertainment!
Raffle tickets cost: 1/$10.00 or 3/$20.00 

Raffle tickets will be sold from May 3, 2008 to August 3, 2008 on the first and third Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn’s Visitors Center/Gift Shop 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

A drawing for the lucky winner will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Dousman Stagecoach Inn’s third floor ballroom. You do not need to be present at the drawing to win!

The Elmbrook Historical Society sponsors a variety of interesting programs on topics of historic interest for its members and the general public.

These meetings are held on the third Monday of the month during the months of January, March, May and September at 7:00 pm at the Brookfield Park and Recreation Center - Senior Hall which is located at  2000 N. Calhoun Road in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Admission is free.

 For more information, please call: (262)782-4057.

Christmas at the Inn
2008

                    Saturday, December 6, 2008                              10:00 am - 4:00 pm

                    Sunday,  December 7, 2008                               12  Noon -  4:00 pm

The Elmbrook Historical Society invites adults and children of all ages to attend “Christmas at the Inn” at the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Join the merriment and stimulate your senses! When you attend “Christmas at the Inn, you will be able to:

• Tour the Dousman Stagecoach Inn decorated for the 1840s holidays,
• Sample and buy Mrs. Brown’s soup, holiday cookies, candies and breads,
• On Saturday, have a Family Holiday Photo professionally taken in an antique sleigh,

      (For an appointment, call “Portraits on Pilgrim”@ ( 262)860-0777)

• Enjoy music performed by M’Ladye Pipers using a recorder, a hammered dulcimer and guitar,
• View a very special “Train Collection” on exhibit at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn,
• Check out and bid  on a variety of Silent Auction baskets,
• Hear Father Christmas tell stories,
• Make children’s crafts,
• Join Children’s Choirs in holiday music.

The fee to attend “Christmas at the Inn” is: Adults -$4.00, Children (5 or older) $1.00 For more information, please call: (262)786-2321 or (262)782 4057.

Christmas at the Inn  -  Photo Opportunities

Schedule your appointment now to have your family Holiday photos professionally taken in an antique sled on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin.  

After you have your picture taken, you may print your own photos or order 25 holiday cards (and get 25 free) for $19.95.The sitting fee of $39.96 will be donated by the photographer to the Elmbrook Historical Society.  

To schedule an appointment, please contact Nancy Rubley at Portraits on Pilgrim (262)860-0777.

Then attend Christmas at the Inn! Mention your photo sitting and get in free!

15^th annual Civil War Days

                        Saturday, May 2, 2009             10:00 am – 4:00 pm  

                        Sunday, May 3, 2009                10:00 am – 4:00pm.

During this two day event, Confederate and Union soldiers (re-enactors) will be camping overnight on the grounds of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Walk through the campsite. See the soldiers readying for battle. View a skirmish and an artillery demonstration. Hear the canons firing. Listen to Abraham Lincoln' deliver his address.

Then tour the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn, the blacksmith shop, the smoke house, and the ice house. Learn how clothing was made in the 1860s and visit the suttlers offering for sale a variety of antique goods. View an 1860's style baseball game and a "style" show. Enjoy partaking in old-time games. Food and beverages will be available.

Admission:

Adults: $4.00,  Children: 6-12 years of age: $1.50

Children Under 6 years of age: Free

An Ambitious Task

Two local historians, Jean Stackpole and Stephen Hauser, are co-authoring a book on Brookfield and Elm Grove.  Both have written many other stories and books about the area.  Stackpole is a retired teacher and journalist.  Hauser teaches at Marquette University and is a well-known presenter of our past. They last collaborated on Following the Trail published by the Elmbrook Historical Society in 1998.

The new book will feature the evolution of the Elmbrook area between 1840s and today.  It will tell how people who settled in our area lived and worked. There have been many changes since our communities were founded.  As Stackpole described it, “The topic of transportation will be from stagecoaches to SUVs and housing will be from cabins to mega mansions.”  Stackpole and Hauser intend to include many previously unpublished photographs.

Check the photographs your family has collected over the years in the Elmbrook area setting.  If you have photographs and memories you’d like to share, please contact the Elmbrook Historical Society, 262 782-4057.

Brookfield: A Fine and Fertile Land

 An Early History of Brookfield Township, Waukesha County, Wisconsin by Thomas Ramstack.  This two-volume set is available at bayernimmigrant@aol.com for $32.

 “Summer Sundays”

The Elmbrook Historical Society invites visitors and residents from the Greater Milwaukee area to “Summer Sundays” a series of special events held at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield Wisconsin.

Sunday, July 20, 2008
“Chess Challenge”**

Individuals of all ages and skill levels are invited to a Waukesha Chess Club “Chess Challenge” on Sunday, July 20, 2008 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the lower level of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, Brookfield, Wisconsin. Come and test their chess skills against the masters! Admission to the Chess Challenge is free.* Registration is required. To register, call (262)782-4057

and a
“Model A Ford Car Show”**

by the
Wisconsin Chapter - Model A Club of America 

Step back in time and see a delightful collection of vintage Model A Fords on display on the grounds of the DousmanStagecoach Inn. These cars presented by the Wisconsin Chapter - Model A Club of America were manufactured from 1918 through 1931 and have been fully restored. Admission to the “Model A Ford Car Show” is free.* 

Sunday, August 3, 2008   (Rain Date - September 21, 2008)

"Classic Car Show"**

Stop in and see a truly wonderful collection of “Classic Cars” on Sunday, August 3, 2008 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on the grounds of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, Wisconsin. See first hand a 1966 Cobra Shelby, a 1960 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster, a 1930 Stutz, a 1966 Corvette, a 1978 Ferrari Model 308 and a 1990 Ferrari Model 348. Admission to this very special “Classic Car Show” is free.*These cars are truly exceptional! Be sure to attend!

Then stop in at the
“Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social” **

Gather with friends and neighbors and attend an “Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social” on Sunday, August 3, 2008 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn, 1075 Pilgrim Parkway, Brookfield, Wisconsin. Single scoop sundaes with choice of two toppings will sell for $2.00. Double scoop sundaes with choice of two toppings will sell for $3.00. Admission to the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social is free*

 ** Tour fees do apply for individuals wishing to tour the Dousman Stagecoach Inn during “Summer Sunday” events. Fees to tour the Dousman Stagecoach Inn and its facilities are:   Adults $4.00, Children $1.00, Families $10.00, Seniors (60 Plus) $3.00.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Special Tours

Curator’s Tour of the
Dousman Stagecoach Inn

Learn first hand about the authentic antiques and beautiful Wisconsin artifacts displayed at the Dousman Stagecoach Inn when the curator of the museum gives a very special tour of the museum. The tour begins at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 7, 2008 and costs $4.00 per person. This is a tour no antique lover should miss! 

Upcoming Meetings and Lectures

Monday September, 15, 2008

“Sacajawea & Toussaint Charbonneau”

by

Cathy and Don Wagner
Monday September 15, 2008
7:00 pm
Brookfield Park and Recreation Center – Senior Hall
2000 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin

Just who were Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau? Find out about this amazing couple who acted as guides and interpreters for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Learn about their incredible adventures as well as the hardships they endured as they searched for a water route from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. 

Don and Cathy Wagner have spent years researching the remarkable couple of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau. Clad in authentic handmade deerskin clothing, the Wagner’s re-enactment will demonstrate vividly how Sacagawea and Charbonneau’s early life experiences, resourcefulness and creativity aided them in their 4,000 miles journey across the Rock Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and then back to St. Louis Missouri.

Don and Cathy Wagner are members of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. They currently present programs for school groups and bus tours at the Watson’s Wild West Museum in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

Admission to this entertaining and informative program is free. Guests are welcome!

Annual Dinner Meeting

Monday, November 10, 2008

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the Elmbrook Historical Society’s Annual Dinner Meeting which will be held on Monday, November 10, 2008. Details to be announced.

Education

Society members have written several books about the area’s history and actively support local communities.  Proceeds benefit the Elmbrook Historical Society.

 Following the Trail, by Stephen K. Hauser and Jean R. Stackpole (is available at local libraries).

"The Dousman Stagecoach Inn: Legacy Restored, by Marion Bruhn  $7.00

Recipes From Days Gone-by Collected With Love

250 recipes submitted by Elmbrook Historical Society Members and Friends  $8

The History/Tour Book of Brookfield & Elm Grove  - 5th Edition

The history (with photographs) of Brookfield and Elm Grove.  Use this informative book for a self-guided auto tour.  $6.95

Elmbrook Historical Society Officers

President                  Sheila Christiansen
1^st Vice President   Lynda Casper
2^nd Vice President  Patricia Basting
Secretary                  Judy Taylor
Treasurer                  John Schaefer

Elmbrook Historical Society
P.O. Box 292
Brookfield, WI 53008-0292
262-782-4057
or e-mail: ehs_53008@wi.rr.com
ehs_53008@wi.rr.com

July 12, 2008

Elmbrook

Visitors Since April 14, 2004

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