Reed House / Beckwith House

Reed House / Beckwith House

The Reed House / Beckwith House at 1006 - 1008 West Exchange Street in Brodhead, Wisconsin. L.S. Fisher settled on the Sugar River 1848, 12 years before Brodhead existed. He built "Fort Fisher", a three story building during the Civil War. It was later named The Reed House, and much later became known as the Beckwith House. It became the home of Miss Helen J. Beckwith who was the granddaughter of L.S. Fisher. Miss Beckwith was born 8/02/1875. She graduated from Brodhead High School in 1893. She was a teacher and librarian for the Brodhead School District. At the age of 22 Al Ringling moved to Brodhead in 1873 to work for Durner and Laube Wagon shop. A bachelor, he took a room on the third floor of the building, at that time known as The Exchange House. He lived here about ten years and put on many circus acts for the locals. In the late 1950's - early 1960's Bob Ryan's Shoe Repair Shop was located in a basement shop. The building was torn down in the 1970's and the area is now the southern terminus and parking lot for The Sugar River State Trail. The brick building along the right edge of the photo was Mauerman Implement shop.

January 1971

3 1/2 X 5 color print

Unknown

Unknown

# 2962 Curator # P89-2-1

Reed House, Beckwith House, Exchange House, Durner and Laube Wagon Shop, L.S. Fisher, Fort Fisher, Helen J. Beckwith, Bob Ryan Shoe Repair, Al Ringling, Sugar River State Trail, Mauerman Implement.