Having a Ball with Sean and Jo Ellen Madden
The new Town Square Ballroom is open for business! Our first official event: A Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party for Ariana Arnetviet. And yes, it was complete with Ballroom Dancing… lessons included. It was Beautiful. Elegant. Lovely. And fun! Truly an evening to remember.
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, that very same room was the former Green Lake County Courtroom--sans built-in seating, the jury box, and judge’s bench. We called it the ballroom, but it hardly lived up to its name. What it needed was someone with imagination and vision. And with a whatever-it-takes attitude.
That “someone” was Sean and Jo Ellen Madden, who had seen the possibilities, dreamed of restoring the room to its former glory, and decided that with a pandemic-induced break in the action….the time was now.
“When Phil Burkart showed us what was behind the fake wall/stage, we knew that those beautiful windows and authentic tin ceiling needed to be exposed, returning the room to its original glory. Fellow Town Square board member Amy Arnetveit did amazing research finding all of the historic elements and Design Specialty Builders did an excellent job in restoring the former courtroom into a space of which original architect William Waters would be proud.”
Not only will the space be great for the community, but it will also be great for Town Square Community Center. Across the nation, community centers regularly help to support themselves by renting spaces for weddings and events.
“We love Green Lake and all that Town Square offers the community. It’s important that people invest in the infrastructure and in other ways to provide the sustainability of our community center. Our hope is that the Ballroom will become the venue for numerous public and private events.”
Like any construction project on a 120-plus-year-old-building, the building effort was replete with surprises and unexpected challenges. But it was worth it. The original soaring tin ceiling is exquisite. Lighting from chandeliers and (what do you call that along the edges?) adds drama. The arched windows flanked in floor-to-ceiling draperies offer old-world grandeur. And the gleaming, refinished original wood floors make you just want to….dance!
We’ll be officially unveiling the space at Town Square’s Open House on June 5, but you’re welcome to take a sneak peek. And if you’re planning an event, definitely do not wait! We’ve already scheduled our first wedding in the ballroom, and it’s sure to become one of the area’s top venues.
Here is a couple of shots of the Ballroom!
