History of the Turner House

At our September 29, 2014 meeting, Tim Plum presented his video documentary on the “History of the Turner House” between Brodhead and Albany. Tim has graciously allowed us to post the video here. Enjoy! … Continue reading

70 Years Later; A Coincidence

–by Pat Weeden Those of you who were able to attend the March 31, 2014 meeting of the Brodhead Historical Society heard a very interesting presentation by Doug Tomas of East Troy, Wis., who talked about his “great uncle Berg”, … Continue reading

The “Condon Painting”

In the Fall of 2012, this 1958 painting by F.H. Engebretson was given to the Brodhead Historical Society by the family of Franklyn II “Bud” and Kathryn (Kay) Condon. A phone conversation between Carol Gombar and Pete Condon gave us … Continue reading

Preserving Local History

—Jerry Phillips, President, Bayfield Heritage Association Why is that so many of us only get interested in “local history” at the passing of our parents or other family elders? Invariably, we wish that we had taped their stories, or had … Continue reading

The Misadventures of Grape and Steve

Excerpts from the latest book by Gregg Condon, “The Misadventures of Grape and Steve; “Stories of childhood; suitable for adults only.” The book features recollections of growing up in Brodhead by Condon and Steve Saunders. STICK WITH ME! Raining cats … Continue reading

A Frontier Letter Home – 1840

Following is the text of a letter written in 1840 by Mr. John Howe, an early settler in the Rock County, Wisconsin Territory, to his parents back east. Mr. Howe had come west to Rock County from Vermont and built … Continue reading

Railroad Recollections

—By Gregg Condon On Monday, April 30, 2012, I had the tremendously enjoyable opportunity to present a program to the Brodhead Historical Society titled, “The Railroads and Brodhead.” “Railroads,” plural? Yes, just before the Milwaukee and Mississippi (M&M, early corporate … Continue reading

Ringling Brothers in Brodhead

—Betty Earleywine, Curator Adapted from Dorothy Kundert’s “Woodburners to Diesels” text for the 1956 Brodhead Centennial celebration. The colossus of the circus world – John Ringling North’s “Greatest Show On Earth,” made its debut at Madison Square Garden in New … Continue reading

Boy Scouts Celebrate 100 Years

The Boy Scout troop in Brodhead celebrated its 100th birthday in 2010. Excerpts of the following article were taken from the Independent-Register Sesquicentennial edition in 2006. Boy Scout troop #108 has been active in Brodhead since 1911, only one year … Continue reading

Brodhead Telephone Company

The press release below was written February 27, 1956 by Mr. Woodrow Wollner of General Telephone Company in Madison. For more than half of Brodhead’s one hundred years, the telephone has been a chief means of communication between the citizens … Continue reading