Celebrating 50 years!
The Brodhead Historical Society is celebrating half a century this year of the ongoing efforts to keep Brodhead History well maintained and cared for.
BHSM Past to Present
The first officers in 1975 were President Francis Gombar, Secretary Florence Behrens, and Treasurer Barbara Bonlie. In 1976, the group took on the responsibility for the historical part of the Brodhead celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. They hosted an antique show held in the high school (which is now the middle school), and an antique car show.
Eventually the abandoned railroad depot on First Center Avenue in downtown Brodhead became available, and funds earned from the Bicentennial activities were used to purchase the building. Built in 1881 after the wood depot that was built in 1856 burned to the ground,this Cream City Brick depot was restored by a group of energetic volunteers. It has housed the Depot Museum since.
In spring of 1980, the first museum curators were Mary Timm and Winona Walters. The grand opening of the museum in the west end of the depot was on May 30-31, 1981, with 810 people attending.
This year, the Brodhead Historical Society celebrates its 50th anniversary. In early 1975, founders established the organization to preserve our community’s hertitage.
To commemorate this milestone, a new logo has been designed by Paris Trumbower, who is a gifted graphics artist and a Brodhead Historical Society Lifetime Member. We are proud to debut this new logo on our newsletter, website, and Facebook page. We’re excited to have this wonderful fresh look incorporating our depot graphic and the organization’s year of origin, surrounded by our name in a beautiful ribbon banner.