The Dousman Stagecoach Inn is located at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield.

WAUKESHA - In the late 1970’s, when Marion Bruhn heard that plans were afoot to tear down an old stagecoach inn on the corner of Bluemound Road and what is now Pilgrim Parkway in Brookfield, she knew she couldn’t let that happen.

"I didn’t even live in Brookfield at that time. I lived on the Wauwatosa side of 124th Street," Bruhn said with a laugh, recalling how she became involved with the epic moving of the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn.

Bruhn and others took up the cause of the inn, which had been built in 1843 and was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

"The Elmbrook Historical Society had to raise the $60,000 for moving the building," she said. "We did it. It took a year, but we did it."

In 1981, the building was relocated a short distance away to its present site at 1075 Pilgrim Parkway.

Bruhn said the move was an interesting, if nerve-racking process. The actual relocation was done in the wee hours of the morning so as not to disturb traffic and took about two hours.

"Even though it was the middle of the night, the move drew a crowd," she said. "When the building finally got to its final spot, the crowd cheered. It was so nice to hear that. After working for a year to save it, it was great to hear the community support."

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