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Broke Spoke
Mable and Stevie Haas’s Broke Spoke was heavily damaged by fire as a result of faulty electrical wiring. The 60-year-old building became a national landmark in 1997, when the Kiln’s home-boy, Green Bay quarter-back, Brett Favre, led the Packers to Super Bowl XXXI. The local bar drew hundreds of Wisconsin fans to watch the New England Patriots’ defeat.
The bar made national news once more when the fire broke out on April 21, 1999. Originally opened in 1985, as the Broke Spoke, even the fire didn’t prevent local patrons as they continued to gather at an outside bar to watch and participate in the rebuilding process.
However, much of the Packer memorabilia that had been donated by fans from all over the United States, in addition to hundreds of personally autographed ladies lingerie had been fried to a crisp.
Following two months of mostly volunteer repairs, the Haases had a grand re-opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting, and exclaimed, “Our friends stood by us and now we’re back, and we’re happy again.”
Wisconsin visitors were welcomed to the renewed Broke Spoke just after the fire, as they posted some new Packer’s memorabilia.
On entering The Broke Spoke, one must climb three, worn, wooden steps to face the darkness lit only by the daylight rays from the front entrance and a few beer signs. Maneuvering between two pool tables reaches a shabby wooden bar bordered by five or six unmatched and unadorned stools of uneven heights. Upon seating and ordering a beer, the mass of assorted signs, posters, memorabilia, become distinguishable to the eye one by one. The floor is plywood and the low ceiling is cluttered with an imposing array of women's assorted underclothing — having been refreshed since the fire.
Also, prior to the Fire was an old wood stove which was the only source of heat during winter months. Posted at one wall is a Dart Board. Even with the one air-condition unit protruding from a wall, the front door is left open for fresh air.
"The Broke Spoke" building was originally an old grocery store built by Orlando Hass in the 1930s. The Haas Grocery catered primarily to the neighboring Negro community selling ham hocks and mustard greens, — however, local towns folk went there for specialties such as smoked sausage, salt meats, and Cajun-cooked Boudin.
