Packers Heritage Trail - Brown County Courthouse - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

The Packers Heritage Trail was designed as a self-guided walking tour that weaves two compelling stories. One is about the rich, colorful and improbable history of the storied Green Bay Packers. The other is about the people of Green Bay and how their undying devotion to their beloved football team pulled it through years of financial struggle and ensured its survival.

The imposing Brown County Courthouse was where the first stockholders meeting of the newly formed non-profit Green Bay Football Corporation was held on Sept. 17, 1923. It was the first of many important Packer meetings held here over the next four decades.

When the franchise was recognized in 1935 under a new name, Green Bay Packers, Inc, the meeting was again held here. So was the meeting in 1950 when shareholders finalized plans for a third stock sale to save the franchise.

This also was the site of perhaps the stormiest meeting in Packer history. For almost four hours on Nov. 30, 1949, the club's board of directors debated Curly Lambeau's future before voting to extend his contract as coach. But a deal was never finalizes, and Lambeau resigned two months later to take over the Chicago Cardinals.

The 1933 trial that nearly doomed the Packers also was held here in Judge Henry Graass' circuit courtroom. Willard J. Bent, a local fan, had fallen from the bleachers during a game at City Stadium in 1931, injuring his back. He sued the Packers and was awarded nearly $5,000. The verdict was handed down on Feb. 29, 1933. Left with no tangible assets, the Packers went into receivership six months later.

The courthouse opened in 1910.

Sponsored by:
Carl and Mary Ellen Kuehne & Family

Group that erected the marker: The Packers Heritage Trail Foundation, Inc. URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: 100 South Jefferson Street Green Bay, Wi

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Date Logged Log   02/07/2013 peach107 visited it