Oftentimes, paranormal activity takes place at a residence because of certain activities or events that had taken place on the site. In this article, you will learn about some of the happenings of the Brumder Mansion that may have contributed to the ghost tales associated with the property.
When the Brumder family sold their mansion, the property passed down to what many would call a “shady” individual. His name was Sam Pick and along with his brother Ed, and some of their associates, the residence was in their possession. At the time, it was rumored that Sam and Ed Pick rubbed elbows with one of the gangster organizations in Chicago. Some believed they had ties to Al Capone’s gang.
The brothers traveled to Milwaukee with hopes of establishing a nightclub business with intentions of using it as a legal front that allowed them to illegally distribute black market liquor. They also had plans to use the mansion for illegal gambling and possibly for prostitution. The ballroom basement was a good place to start this type of business , offering a safe space to try out their ideas.
The speakeasy was eventually expanded and relocated to an upscale building found on Bluemound Road. As for the ballroom, it was still used as a place for high rollers to engage in high stakes gambling. The men were also treated to fine women and liquor.
Following the repeal of prohibition, Sam started to suffer money problems and he fell behind on the mortgage payments. He almost lost the Club Madrid that he opened away from the mansion. However, he was able to dodge the bullet and came up with the funds needed to solve his money issues. Throughout the middles of the 1930s, Club Madrid continued to give Sam problems, as he now had to start paying music royalties whenever his performers used songs written by other people. At first, Sam refused to pay, but then collectors came in and starting removing tables from Club Madrid, he settled his bill.
In order to gain more funds, Sam felt it necessary to sell the Brumder Mansion. Before the property was sold, a secret tunnel that ran into the basement was sealed with cement. In the 1930s, police discovered the illegal gambling operation that the brothers were running at the Club Madrid. Luckily, they found a judge willing to only fine them $1,000. In the end, they were not sent to jail.
Sam’s issues didn’t stop there. He also didn’t have many friends among the mobsters in Milwaukee. An attempt was made on his life in the late 1930s, where he was shot. The wounded Sam lived. It took a stick of dynamite being tossed into the Club Madrid in the 1950s to encourage Sam to pack up his things and leave for Michigan. The trail on Ed Pick’s life stops cold here as well.
When Sam sold the mansion, an English couple became the new owners around the mid-30s. To maintain the appearance of the Victorian home, the couple decided to divide the home into an upscale, boarding house as a way to make money from the property. Employees that worked at a nearby company would stay at the mansion.
