IOWA STATE TRADITIONS

A. Louis Champlin (1874-1939)

In 1904, Louis established the first general store in the fourth ward at the corner of Ash Avenue and Lincoln Way and in 1908 built the Champlin building at the corner of Lincoln Way and Welch Avenue. It was the first two story brick building in the area complete with a soda fountain, pharmacy, candy counter, and a large dance hall in the upper level. In the years to come he continued to develop businesses on Lincoln Way and built the Ames (Kingland) and Varsity Theaters. A 1918 fire in the corner building almost put him out of business.

While active in campustown, Louis also was raising fine livestock at his farm south of Iowa State where he raised Percheron, Hackney and saddle horses. He served on Ames first zoning board for 16 years. He lived with his wife, Angie, and his son, A. Louis Champlin Jr. in a house behind the corner building. Mr. Champlin loved the college and campustown area and fought at one time to secede from Ames and have the area zoned to become West Ames. He worked continuously to keep the college, especially the Memorial Union, from developing businesses that were in direct competition with campustown. He died at the age of 65 and his passing made the front page headlines in the Ames Daily Tribune.

Papa's Corner has remained in the Champlin family for the past 100 years. It is currently owned by, A. Louis Champlin, Jr. of Minneapolis. His children Lynn Lloyd, of Ames, and Steven Champlin, of Minneapolis, have carefully tried to preserve as much of the original building as possible; the white Italian marble and hardwood maple flooring, the tin ceiling and molding, the brick and plaster, and the Champlin's block that was in the entry for many years.

When you come to Papa's Corner, be sure to look at the historic phtotographs of Louis and his building and the Champlin's block in front of the stellar sound and light booth.