BRODHEAD - The depot on First Center Avenue that now houses the Brodhead Historical Museum wasn't the first depot built in the city.
The first depot was built in 1857, one year after the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad laid tracks in the city. The train came to Brodhead rather than through the villages of Decatur to the northwest or Clarence, which was located to the south of Brodhead.
According to "Depots of Green County," the first depot in Brodhead was built in 1857.
Local history talks about the merchants who came by train to sell their products to people who moved to the new village. People boarding and getting off the train was a common sight in the early years. Merchandise was also delivered to businesses in the community via train.
According to "Depots of Green County," the first train arrived in 1857. John L. McNair was the first station agent. Trains traveled from Mineral Point to Milwaukee, with Brodhead being one of the stops along the way.
In early July 1881, the first depot burned down. Construction of a new depot began a few days later. The new depot had two waiting rooms, one for ladies and one for gentlemen, a telegraph office and baggage and freight rooms.
By 1913, eight passenger trains came to Brodhead. Passenger service ended in 1958.
The depot houses many artifacts of Brodhead's early history. It has been carefully preserved by the Brodhead Historical Society.
The first depot was built in 1857, one year after the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad laid tracks in the city. The train came to Brodhead rather than through the villages of Decatur to the northwest or Clarence, which was located to the south of Brodhead.
According to "Depots of Green County," the first depot in Brodhead was built in 1857.
Local history talks about the merchants who came by train to sell their products to people who moved to the new village. People boarding and getting off the train was a common sight in the early years. Merchandise was also delivered to businesses in the community via train.
According to "Depots of Green County," the first train arrived in 1857. John L. McNair was the first station agent. Trains traveled from Mineral Point to Milwaukee, with Brodhead being one of the stops along the way.
In early July 1881, the first depot burned down. Construction of a new depot began a few days later. The new depot had two waiting rooms, one for ladies and one for gentlemen, a telegraph office and baggage and freight rooms.
By 1913, eight passenger trains came to Brodhead. Passenger service ended in 1958.
The depot houses many artifacts of Brodhead's early history. It has been carefully preserved by the Brodhead Historical Society.