MONROE - Gottlieb Brandli Sr. lives in Monroe, but inside his home, he's surrounded by Switzerland. He has a large photograph just above his kitchen table showing off his hometown that gives him a smile just looking at it.

Brandli was born in Wolfhausen, Switzerland, a small hamlet where he was raised as one of eight children. While growing up, the Brandli family didn't live on a farm but the boys were expected to have jobs helping on neighboring farms. During the Depression and World War II, he recalls, it was difficult to always have food on the table. Working on a farm ensured there was plenty to eat.

As a youngster, Brandli had to find his own fun with family and friends. Soccer was almost always at the top of the list and once the hay was cut, a group of boys would get permission from the farmer to have a soccer game on the field. Although it made for some sore feet, he recalls it was immense fun.

It was a simple time, when children made their own toys if they wanted them. Brandli remembers trying to play hockey without skates, some homemade sticks and a tree limb cut down for a makeshift puck.

"We even made scooters ourselves," Brandli said. "I used an old wheel from a baby buggy and a piece of metal or wood for brakes."

Brandli's father was a wheelwright after serving in World War I where he was part of transportation division and repaired wagons. That was where the woodworking in the family began.

Although Brandli was one of six sons, he was the only one to take over the woodworking trade. He remembers clearly being in the shop beside his father. "We all got a blue apron but mine had a pocket for tools or a pencil," he explained, noting that even though he was younger, he felt more prepared for the lesson. He watched as his father made things by hand and, as his father aged, it was Brandli who spent his time assisting him in the shop.

At 16, Brandli attended a four-year apprenticeship for cabinet-making. His mother was a strong force in ensuring all of the children learned a trade. There were several divisions to choose from after the war, a time when there was a great need for people to learn rebuilding trades.

Brandli would learn the art of cabinetry and once a week, he would also attend a special school to learn more about bookkeeping, math and design.

The ride to his apprenticeship was about 15 minutes by bicycle. Once he completed the four-year program, Brandli landed his first job in a nearby shop. He was 20.

"I thought I knew it all," he laughed. "But that's when the learning really began."

Brandli said he wanted to learn everything the shop had to offer and he made a big effort to learn about the large machinery and tools.

He would move to a few different jobs in a matter of just a few years - all to increase the spectrum of his trade into setting up large machinery, making cabinets, windows and doors.

Eventually, Brandli became interested in how to improve the installers for the products he was building. He was working at that time in the French speaking part of Switzerland and although he never learned the language, he said he truly enjoyed the people there and remembers them with fondness.

A big part of Brandli's life was his time spent in military training. Although he was never involved in a war, Brandli and his brothers attended mandatory basic training, and his assignment was in a mountain fortress in the artillery section. For seven years, his group prepared for outside defense of the fortress and they were fully trained. The annual training lasted a few weeks each year and he still recalls the closet in their Switzerland home filled with uniforms, guns and ammunition - ready for all six boys, just in case.

It took Brandli about six months before he made the ultimate decision to come to Monroe. He had an uncle, a cheesemaker in Albany, who had already made the trek.

In 1954, Brandli was just 25 years old when he came to Monroe, traveling to New York by boat and then by train to Chicago where his uncle picked him up.

He was initially uncomfortable with the unfamiliar territory, traffic and change in measurement system.

"The first winter here was horrible," he said. "The summer was worse."

The climate change was hard on him but, eventually, Brandli said he met good people who encouraged him to stick around.

He managed to land himself a job with Kuhne Construction. It was a job he would hold for more than 30 years.

He didn't like how the big machines he had learned so much about weren't used here, and mostly everything was done by hand. Luckily, those years of watching his father do everything by hand were well worth it.

Although the job was construction, Brandli was more into woodworking and eventually, a cabinet shop was developed within the business.

About 24 years ago, after years of thinking about it, Brandli decided he would finally branch off on his own and opened Swiss Cabinetry, his own shop in Monroe.

"I was happy," he said of opening his own business. "I realized being happy was making stuff for customers and seeing their smiles when I delivered - that's worth a lot."

His style and type of woodworking was called Old Alpine and through the grapevine, Brandli met a man from Chicago who wanted to order some things, and a relationship developed from there.

The duo would travel across the United States and Canada together to woodworking shops where he would give seminars on chip carving and woodworking, making connections with those interested in his type of furniture-making.

Brandli spent a lot of time on the road, meeting and developing relationships with people. He wasn't always fond of being in the teacher's chair with so many eyes staring at him, he said, and he knew some couldn't always understand his thick Swiss accent but it was a great way to make business connections and people always seemed to learn, enjoy and come back. His strong knowledge in design and proportion was a great asset.

One of the jobs he's most proud of is the furniture at St. Victor's Catholic Church in Monroe.

"I'm very proud of that," he said.

Brandli traveled heavily and was busy with his shop, but he helped out with the building of the ice rink and shelter house at Twining Park while his sons played hockey.

Both of Brandli's sons, Gottlieb Jr. and Kurt, also helped in the shop. About eight years ago, Gottlieb Jr. bought the business from his father that he still owns and operates today.

"I made an effort to teach him the tricks of the trade," Brandli said. "One thing I learned and taught him is that you're never, ever done learning."

He also has two daughters, Deborah and Monica. His first wife, Gertrude, passed away in 1999. He has been remarried to Lou for the past 10 years.

Brandli visits his son at the shop daily to see how things are going, and said it's hard to stay away for too long. Lately, he's taken up a strong interest in chip carving, making pieces as a hobby.

"As of now, I just do little things," he said, noting that he leaves the big projects to his son.



Singing

When Brandli first came to Monroe, he searched for a men's choir to join and eventually found the Mannerchor Men's Choir in New Glarus in 1955. Singing was something he enjoyed back in Switzerland and finding the group was a great social activity for him.

Later on, the choir developed in Monroe through the Swiss Club. After a few years, the group dwindled and they asked ladies to join and eventually it became the Swiss Singers group. He also joined the yodel club in New Glarus and rehearsed each week.

Singing is something Brandli enjoys and makes him feel close to his heritage.

Today, Brandli still enjoys getting out and attending dances at Turner Hall. At one time he was heavily involved with Turner Hall and served as the board president for a time.

He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his living room, he is surrounded by photos of them donning Swiss garb.

Although he travels a little, Brandli has only returned to Switzerland a handful of times over the years, but welcomes his youngest sister as a visitor often. At one time, Virgil Leopold came back from Switzerland with a photo of Brandli's home where he grew up in Wolfhausen. Since the place isn't really where tourists go, he was happy to see it.

When he reflects on all he's done, he simply smiles while thinking back on old times.

"We all make mistakes," he concluded. "There's no reason to dwell on it. Do it over and do it right."