Who was Bradley? (Milwaukee, Brown Deer: live, farm, donation)

[Jay F]

When I lived in Milwaukee I lived near Bradley road. Was this the same Bradley the Bradley Center was named after? If so, who was Bradley?

[andrw313]

I don't know about Bradley Road but the Bradley center was named after Harry Bradley (of the Allen-Bradley Company). His daughter is Jane Pettit (think Pettit Ice Center). I wouldn't be surprised if the road is named after him or one of his family members as well although Bradley is a fairly common name and could just be a random road name.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

Jane Bradley Petit was a major philanthropist who basically gave a huge chunk of her family's fortune (from the Allen Bradley company) to all kinds of causes in Milwaukee. So the name Bradley and Pettit come up quite frequently. Jane Bradley Petit died about 6 or 7 years ago.

[claudelle]

Don't forget that Peg Bradley, Harry's widow, was instrumental in increasing the size of the Milwaukee Art Museum with the donation of her collection of late 19th and 20th century art, and funding to increase the size of the building.

The Bradleys had a farm in what was then considered "out in the country." It fronts on to what is now Brown Deer Road. The road that ran behind the farm was given the name Bradley Road.