A Generational Vision with Jo Ellen Madden
In honor of Town Square’s 10th anniversary in 2022, we are sharing stories about the movers and shakers who helped shape our first decade. In this installment, learn how Jo Ellen and Sean Madden went from weekend visitors to lake home owners to community superstars… and the guiding light that drives their passion.
One morning Sean Madden rose from bed, walked to the bathroom, and found a picture from a magazine taped to the mirror. Alongside it, a handwritten note.
This is what I want. A generational place we can pass down one to the next. Please reconsider.
The picture, cut from a home decorating magazine, depicted a grandfather, son, and grandson gathered around a campfire roasting marshmallows at a lake house. An image that would tug on a caring father's heartstrings.
The message, of course, was from Sean's wife, Jo Ellen.
Her plea came in response to the couple's conversation the day before. It was the end of Labor Day weekend in 2002 and the Maddens—with their three pre-teen sons in tow—were driving from Green Lake, Wis. to their home in Evanston, Ill.
The two and a half hour journey had become a familiar one over the past 10 years as they'd spent weekends fishing in the pristine water and golfing at favorite courses. They were following in the footsteps of Sean's parents, John and Mary, who'd fallen in love with Green Lake and bought a condo in 1991.
After more than a decade of staying at her in-laws' cozy quarters, the boys were growing and Jo Ellen knew they needed a bigger place of their own. That weekend they'd discovered an estate sale with a property overlooking Mill Pond right in the heart of downtown.
While other potential buyers were daunted by its need for TLC, Jo Ellen saw potential. Her heart sank on the drive home as Sean gently explained the timing wasn't right. Work was just too busy for him to delve into something like this.
Less than 24 hours later, after finding the message on the mirror, Sean tucked his worries to the side, walked back to the bedroom, and looked at his wife.
"Okay. Fine. You can pursue it. But I don't have time to help."
From homeowner to community cheerleader
Jo Ellen smiles as the Maddens’ lake home takes shape.
Jo Ellen, a long time piano teacher, elementary school choir director, and church music director with unwavering energy, didn't miss a beat. She negotiated the sale, hired local contractors, and watched their lake home take shape. The day before Thanksgiving, she invited everyone who touched the house over for a gratitude party.
"I said, because of you, I have this beautiful new home in this charming small town," recalled Jo Ellen. "I can't be happier. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Something else came out of that gathering, and many more that followed. She got to know people. Neighbors. Business owners. Families that have called Green Lake home for centuries.
But just four years later, her idyllic dream was threatened. The economic recession shook the small community.
"I started to see that my darling town was faltering," said Jo Ellen. "Shops were closing. When the Grocery Bag died, that was it. Something had to be done"
“I started to see that my darling town was faltering... Something had to be done.”
In 2008 she attended a town-hall meeting at Norton's restaurant. A small but passionate group of community members grappled to brainstorm solutions. It led Jo Ellen to read the book "Boomtown U.S.A." by Jack Schultz.
Inspired, Jo Ellen shared her notes with neighbors Mary Rowley, owner of Goose Blind Grill & Bar, and Mary-Jo Johnson, owner of McConnell Inn Bed & Breakfast. With kids similar in age, the three became close friends and discovered they had a strong, balanced skillset. They banded together and created Downtown Green Lake Renewal Project (DGLRP) in 2009.
The dynamic trio built relationships with the City and conducted a community-wide survey to guide their direction. They raised funds, recruited volunteers, and planned programs that aligned with the mission to renew downtown.
By 2012, the nonprofit was gaining traction. They'd organized community cleanup events, a façade improvement program, and Shop Local campaigns. They were also instrumental in transforming the mucky shoreline at Deacon Mills Park into a welcoming downtown entrance.
Downtown Green Lake Renewal Project (DGLRP) board members stand on the newly-constructed wharf in Deacon Mills Park in 2012.
"It's a novelty to come to town on your boat," said Jo Ellen. "The Wharf Project was a massive undertaking that gave DGLRP credibility."
Joining forces
DGLRP wasn't the only organization working for the betterment of the community. One such ally was Green Lake Town Square, a newly established community center occupying the previously vacant county courthouse building on Hill Street.
"We started renting an office space in Town Square," said Jo Ellen. "We had good relationships with the co-founders, Fran Hill, Phil Burkart, and Lynn Grout, and it was time to become more professional instead of holding meetings at my house."
Close proximity, intertwining missions, and feedback from the community eventually led the two 501(c)3 organizations to merge in 2015 as Green Lake Renewal, Inc. This newly formed nonprofit would operate Town Square Community Center.
Receiving no tax dollars, Town Square is funded completely by the community.
"It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, energy, and money to create a community center from scratch," said Jo Ellen. "We have to maintain a big, historic building and keep it occupied, keep the lights on, and find ways to bring people in."
“It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, energy, and money to create a community center from scratch.”
Working alongside fellow board members and volunteers, Jo Ellen fills any role needed to keep momentum going. Marketing. Development. Fundraising. She's managed social media, co-planned the annual White Hot Party, spearheaded the campus Weed Team, and led a Broadway music camp for children. No task is too tall, too small, or too menial.
Under the direction of Jo Ellen Madden, young stars at Town Square’s 2022 Broadway Music Camp end their week with a four-song show and dance performance in front of an audience of parents and grandparents.
Transforming the ballroom
One tall order was returning the former Green Lake County courtroom to its former historic glory. The space served as Town Square's ballroom, but it hardly lived up to its name.
"I always thought it was an interesting space with beautiful windows and doors, but there was this fake wall and fake ceiling and fake stage," said Jo Ellen. "One day Phil Burkart showed me what was hiding behind and I saw the glorious tin ceiling and windows overlooking the lovely Mill Pond. I said this has to change!"
It was 2020 and Sean, now retired and becoming involved in the community on his own accord, didn't hesitate when Jo Ellen painted a vision for the space's potential.
"I said I wanted this to be a beautiful place for our community to gather, and Sean said he wanted it to make money for the community center," laughed Jo Ellen. "We're a good team."
“I said I wanted this to be a beautiful place for our community to gather, and Sean said he wanted it to make money for the community center. We’re a good team.”
The Maddens underwrote the renovation, but Jo Ellen credits much of the transformation to Phil Burkart, Larry Gundrum, and Amy and Erik Arnetveit. Every care was taken to restore its elegance and make it true-to-era, including refinishing the original hardwood floors and locating era-styled crystal chandeliers. With a seating capacity of 200, the room now hosts dances, weddings, speakers, business events, and more.
"It's such a beautiful and versatile space that's being used all the time," said Jo Ellen. "It's gratifying knowing we're bringing funds back into Town Square to create more programming for our community. It's a win-win."
Every care was taken to restore the ballroom’s elegance and make it true-to-era, including refinishing the original hardwood floors and locating era-styled crystal chandeliers.
Planning for future generations
Town Square's mission is to enrich the lives of Green Lake community members, family, and friends by providing cultural, social, recreational, and educational opportunities for people of all ages. The work is far from over.
"Everybody has their gifts to give, via time, talent, or treasure," said Jo Ellen. "We would not be where we are today without the generosity of so many supporters. I'm so thankful for Fran and Phil, who are the pillars of Town Square, and of course our volunteers, sponsors, and donors."
Whether underwriting Town Square Tap's live music series, sponsoring the White Hot Party, or committing to an endowment, the Maddens are driven by one guiding light: future generations.
“I admire the generational families on the lake so much, and I want that for my family.”
"I admire the generational families on the lake so much, and I want that for my family," said Jo Ellen. "My wonderful in-laws aren't able to come anymore so they live vicariously through our enjoyment. Now, our three adult sons are learning to love it just as much as we do. When they have their own families, and visit, or even live here, it'll be that much more vibrant."
Jo Ellen jokes that her motives are selfish, but if you listen to her rave about Green Lake a theme of community will emerge.
"I am so thrilled to see Green Lake organizations and businesses working together for the betterment of everybody: local, second home owners, and tourism. We need each other. The hard work and the effort for the community is what it's all about."
“The hard work and the effort for the community is what it’s all about.”
"It's a long road to get where we want Town Square to go, but we've worked fast and furious the last 10 to 15 years to see progress. And we're capable of doing it. You have to align the stars, and that's the trick. Getting the right players in the right place."
Jo Ellen and Sean, shining brightly and leading by example, are two of those stars.