Hotel Sheldon Munn
***Asset is not by me, I am merely the sponsor***
Asset by: Mena Valley
Art Station: artstation.com/menavalley
Discord: valleyveil#4570
This is the largest and most iconic building in downtown Ames, my hometown. It is now high end condo’s. I have heard rumours there was a speakeasy bar during prohibition in the basement.
Some history:
After twelve years of considering proposals for a new hotel or the extensive remodeling of one of the old existing hotels, a group of Ames business men organized the Ames Improvement Company to carry out the community’s desire to have a hotel that would meet not only immediate needs, but meet the future needs of a growing city. A successful venture was finally assured. Parley Sheldon, banker and perennial mayor of Ames, H. L. and A. H. Munn, lumberyard owners, contracted for the hotel’s construction in June of 1915. Sheldon and the Munns remained the owners until a major interest was sold to Tangney-McGinn Hotels in 1926. The Ames Improvement Association was involved in arranging for leasing and management.
Ground was broken in late 1915 and the Sheldon-Munn Hotel was formally opened on May 31, 1916. Dean C. F. Curtiss was toastmaster on the occasion of a formal dinner that evening. Dean E. W. Stanton spoke on The Town and the College and Harvey Ingham of the Des Moines Register spoke on Greater Iowa. There were other dignitaries on the agenda that evening too, and the new modern social and service center of Ames was very properly launched.
