Pools, Parties, and an Alligator

This episode takes us to a single home in Green Bay — 840 South Madison Street — and unravels how its walls reflect more than a century of community life. We begin in the 1890s, when the house was a gathering spot for society receptions and trace its transformation through maps, architecture, and the social customs of the day.By the 1940s, the Minahan family brought new life to the property and a backyard pool. We’ll explore how postwar leisure shifted from the front porch to the backyard, reshaping how families connected.From Victorian parlors to splash parties and gator sightings, to modern preservation within the Astor Historic District, this house tells the story of Green Bay itself — evolving with each era, yet always holding its place in the community.