We're in the process of updating our website! Learn more about what that means and how you can help create history..
click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
Location (Address)
165 S CALHOUN RD
County
Waukesha
City/Village
Brookfield
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section
Property Features
Year Built
1861
Additions
Survey Date
2005,1975
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Cream Brick
Architect
Jacob Ruby
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History.
Other records associated with this building include: House (AHI #7785), Bank Barn #2 (AHI #105027), Bank Barn #1 (AHI #138939), Garage #2 (AHI #138940), Smokehouse (AHI #138941), Pumphouse (AHI #138942), Fireplace (AHI #138943), and Milk Processing Facility (AHI #138944).
The B in the photo codes stands for BKFD. Another Survey map name is City Engineer 10-1-92.
DESCRIPTION:
This cream brick farm house has been expanded many times in the history of the Ruby Family. Most notable features of the two-story hipped roof southern section are two-story brick pilasters topped with corbelled capitals; the pilasters appear to hold up a corbelled brick entablature topped by a simple wooden frieze and overhanging eave. The northern portion of the house includes multiple gable-roofed sections with returns at the eave lines. Unadorned stone sills and lintels appear throughout the structure.
Related to the house are numerous agriculutral outbuildings which flank both sides of Calhoun Road and are in excellent repair.
ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE:
The significance of the Ruby Farm lies in the combination of the historic residence and the numerous agricultural barns and outbuildings, set within an identifiable farmstead with open fields and fenced paddocks. The large gambrel-roofed Dairy Barn west of the house, with its distinctive cupola, is on of the best barns in Brookfield Township.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Jacob Ruby came to Brookfield Township in 1848, where he bought 40 acres of farmland and built a log cabin. In the 1860 census Ruby (Rube) is listed as having come from Wutemburg Germany and his property was valued at $400. By the time of the 1870 Census, the value of his property is listed as $10,000 indicating major expansion of acreage and/or major improvements to his dwelling and farm buidings. It is probable that Ruby built the cream brick residence around 1860.
The Ruby farm produced sugar beets, with some 400 tons shipped annually to Green Bay. The Rubys also sold vegetables, feed cavels, honey, hay and fruit from three large apple orchards. A dairy was started in 1933 that included home delivery six days a week. The Ruby family operated this farm, one of Waukesha County's major farms, for nearly 100 years; in 1953 granson Rolland Ruby started a real estate business. He developed Ruby Isle Shopping Center and started the Elm Brook Bank in the 1960s. His love of farming and horses led him to train Belgian draft horses for a 6-horse hitch. A large wagon used for parades and the Ruby Realty 6-horse hitch were famous throughout the United States.
2005--
This property was initially surveyed in 1979 and was mapped on DOT Brookfield. The property was resurveyed in 2005 and all of the structures remain intact, with little to no changes to the farm as a whole. In addition, the board and batten sheathed commercial structure to the north of the barn on the east side of Calhoun Road was the milk processing facility when Ruby farm had their own milk processing operation. Based on census and tax roll info, it does not appear that Ruby purchased land in the Town of Brookfield until 1851; however, it is likely that the citation regarding that Ruby built the brick house 10 years after settling here seems to be correct. See additional cards for individual photos of each outbuilding. The house and outbuildings located on the west side of Calhoun Road were sold to a developer in January of 2005; however, Katherine Ruby still resides in the home. Her son Jacob Ruby still owns the former farm property, including the milk processing facility, located on the east side of Calhoun Road.
Other records associated with this building include: House (AHI #7785), Bank Barn #2 (AHI #105027), Bank Barn #1 (AHI #138939), Garage #2 (AHI #138940), Smokehouse (AHI #138941), Pumphouse (AHI #138942), Fireplace (AHI #138943), and Milk Processing Facility (AHI #138944).
The B in the photo codes stands for BKFD. Another Survey map name is City Engineer 10-1-92.
DESCRIPTION:
This cream brick farm house has been expanded many times in the history of the Ruby Family. Most notable features of the two-story hipped roof southern section are two-story brick pilasters topped with corbelled capitals; the pilasters appear to hold up a corbelled brick entablature topped by a simple wooden frieze and overhanging eave. The northern portion of the house includes multiple gable-roofed sections with returns at the eave lines. Unadorned stone sills and lintels appear throughout the structure.
Related to the house are numerous agriculutral outbuildings which flank both sides of Calhoun Road and are in excellent repair.
ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE:
The significance of the Ruby Farm lies in the combination of the historic residence and the numerous agricultural barns and outbuildings, set within an identifiable farmstead with open fields and fenced paddocks. The large gambrel-roofed Dairy Barn west of the house, with its distinctive cupola, is on of the best barns in Brookfield Township.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Jacob Ruby came to Brookfield Township in 1848, where he bought 40 acres of farmland and built a log cabin. In the 1860 census Ruby (Rube) is listed as having come from Wutemburg Germany and his property was valued at $400. By the time of the 1870 Census, the value of his property is listed as $10,000 indicating major expansion of acreage and/or major improvements to his dwelling and farm buidings. It is probable that Ruby built the cream brick residence around 1860.
The Ruby farm produced sugar beets, with some 400 tons shipped annually to Green Bay. The Rubys also sold vegetables, feed cavels, honey, hay and fruit from three large apple orchards. A dairy was started in 1933 that included home delivery six days a week. The Ruby family operated this farm, one of Waukesha County's major farms, for nearly 100 years; in 1953 granson Rolland Ruby started a real estate business. He developed Ruby Isle Shopping Center and started the Elm Brook Bank in the 1960s. His love of farming and horses led him to train Belgian draft horses for a 6-horse hitch. A large wagon used for parades and the Ruby Realty 6-horse hitch were famous throughout the United States.
2005--
This property was initially surveyed in 1979 and was mapped on DOT Brookfield. The property was resurveyed in 2005 and all of the structures remain intact, with little to no changes to the farm as a whole. In addition, the board and batten sheathed commercial structure to the north of the barn on the east side of Calhoun Road was the milk processing facility when Ruby farm had their own milk processing operation. Based on census and tax roll info, it does not appear that Ruby purchased land in the Town of Brookfield until 1851; however, it is likely that the citation regarding that Ruby built the brick house 10 years after settling here seems to be correct. See additional cards for individual photos of each outbuilding. The house and outbuildings located on the west side of Calhoun Road were sold to a developer in January of 2005; however, Katherine Ruby still resides in the home. Her son Jacob Ruby still owns the former farm property, including the milk processing facility, located on the east side of Calhoun Road.
Bibliographic References
1860, 1870 Census Records.
Brookfield News 2/15/2001.
Elm Grove Elm Leaves 2/15/2001.
Arline Kirkham, ed., Historic Landmark Tour: Brookfield-Elm Grove, Wisconsin (New Berlin, WI), Kettle Moraine Questers, 1991), 14. Jacob Rube, obituary, Waukesha Freeman, 8 April 1909, 1/6. Daniel Hounsell, "Rolland Ruby Helped Shape Today's Brookfield," Waukesha Freeman, 15 March 1988.
Tax Rolls, Town of Waukesha, 1860-1920. Census records, 1860 to 1920, including ag census for 1860 and 1870.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
National/State Register Listing Name
Not Listed
National Register Listing Date
State Register Listing Date
Contributing
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Contact Us
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Go to top
