The Brookfield Scene
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.
October 2006 - Posts
By Janet Wintersberger
Tuesday, Oct 31 2006, 03:10 PM
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We've now entered days of personal electronic devices. In many ways we are connected. That may mean that we're disconnected from knowing what family life was like without television or refrigerators. Refrigerators were not commonly available until after WWII. Before then families relied on "ice boxes."
Have dinner with Elmbrook Historical Society members on Monday, November 13 and enjoy a program called "Iceman Days".
Bob Siegel Jr. of Mequon will inform and entertain us with stories about the harvesting of ice from lakes to the delivery to home ice boxes. It is sure to bring back memories of the ice man, his horse and wagon, and slabs of ice brought to our kitchens.
Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. at the Best Western Midway Hotel. The cost is $20 per person. Advanced reservations are required. Payment must be received no later than November 6. Send it to the Elmbrook Historical Society, P.O. Box 292, Brookfield, WI 53008-0292.
Call 262 782 4057 for more information.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Wednesday, Oct 25 2006, 12:08 PM
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"Roads, roads and more roads" talked about Calhoun Road (north of Bluemound Rd.) and the increased enforcement of speed limits. The article quoted a reader concerned about recent and proposed changes in road width.
Here's an email from another reader who apparently thinks I travel too quickly. The italicized comments are his or hers.
You don't make much sense! If you have a problem with the speed limits in Brookfield, why don't you take a drive on I-94 tomorrow at 65 MPH and get it out of your system. Just because the road north of Bluemound has been widened doesn't mean it should become a racetrack for your benefit. The road south of Bluemound has not been widened and is unsafe at any speed.
We in the City of Brookfield don't need you to tell our police department and highway department what the speed limit should be on Calhoun Road. If you don't like our laws and enforcement, stay in the Town, and mind your own business.
By the way, I do not reside on Calhoun Road.
Question: Did you get a speeding ticket recently?
Here's my reply.
No, I did not get a speeding ticket recently. I don't live on Calhoun either. I am concerned about the 'racetrack' the road seems to have become. It is likely that widening Calhoun (south of Bluemound) will similarly result in more speeding.
I'm not a proponent of altering speed limits in Brookfield.
I do drive the freeway often. The speed limit is higher.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Sunday, Oct 22 2006, 05:02 PM
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Comments from readers:
Brookfield Road, South of Capitol Drive
18 feet of Oak Hill Cemetery has been given to the City of Brookfield. The caretakers of the cemetery wanted someone to remove the chain link fence and the concrete bases.
This fence is very close to graves. The city plans to put in a walkway, this may open up the possibility of vandalism.
Oak Hill Cemetery is the resting spot of a Revolutionary War Soldier, Nathan Hatch. It is also is the gravesite for my great grandparents. Let’s hope that any pedestrians will restrain themselves from vandalism.
Calhoun Road, North & South of Bluemound Road
Brookfield received a state grant to monitor speeders on Calhoun Road. Apparently, both the state and city take a cut of the fines levied on speeders. So we not only pay taxes to build the road, but we also contribute when we travel at a speed that seems comfortable for such a wide road. Is this road a money-maker for the government? Can you imagine the money coming in after the next part of the road is completed?
But then, we’ll need lots of money to pay for the road, the I-94 bridges and the Interchange that the city insists they aren’t building.
Of course, according to Mayor Speaker, the widening of Calhoun Road (south of Bluemound) will make the community “safer.” Perhaps he forgot about the elementary school along Calhoun.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Wednesday, Oct 18 2006, 12:59 PM
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Two historians, Jean Stackpole and Steven Hauser, are co-authoring a book on Brookfield and Elm Grove. Both have written many other stories and books about the area.
The new book will feature the evolution of the Elmbrook area between 1840s to today. As Stackpole described it, “The topic of transportation will be from stagecoaches to SUVs and housing will be from cabins to mega mansions.”
Their new book will include many photographs. Your help is needed.
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.
Just think. A proud parent standing next to his new 1953 auto could be memorialized forever.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Friday, Oct 13 2006, 10:30 AM
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I left my Brookfield home behind for two weeks and traveled to Ancient Greece. Athens has sidewalks in its city of 4 million people. Its sidewalks are crowded with pedestrians. The city’s climate is conducive to foot traffic.
The cities I visited, Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, seem to have a strong a strong building code. All buildings are whitewashed and have painted windows and doors. Buildings are shaped as cubes. Some are large and some are small. One could almost compare them to 1940s refrigerators placed side-by-side.
The Greeks value old structures. They are still rebuilding the Parthenon.
Mykonos closes from November-February due to low temperatures (high of 50 degrees, low of 40). Strong winds must contribute to a Greecian wind chill factor.
Are there any valid comparisons with Brookfield?
I’d enjoy hearing your comments.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Monday, Oct 9 2006, 01:46 PM
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Evidently the city of Brookfield is concerned about speeding on Calhoun Road. As I’ve mentioned before, Calhoun Road (North of Bluemound) seems to encourage drivers to speed along that stretch. One nice day recently, three squads were assigned to the area. It was quite impressive when all three squads had motorists pulled over almost simultaneously.
The city received a grant to monitor speeders on Calhoun Road.
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By Janet Wintersberger
Thursday, Oct 5 2006, 04:25 PM
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A while back I shared thoughts about the city’s sidewalks. Earlier this month, I noticed some foot traffic along Bluemound Road and along Calhoun. In fact, one day I saw two people on the sidewalk between Barker and Calhoun Roads.
Another day I witnessed an older woman, using a walker, cross Bluemound Road in mid-block. Traffic slowed and then stopped for her as she made her way across the road.
Considering the left-hand turn signals at the intersections, it was probably wiser for her to cross mid-block than at the corner.
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