Brown Camp Lofts

216-1^st Street

This building is on the site of the Eagle Pottery c. 1882

Built in 1924 for Brown Camp Hardware – Frank Camp was watched the day to day work of the company. Ernest Brown had a more interesting life. He started as an outside salesman for the company of JD Seeburger Hardware after Seeburger’s death he bought the company with other employees and continued on as outside sales – creating an insurance company for “traveling men” and building a number of important buildings in Des Moines. Including Brown Garage (1911) and Brown Hotel where he ran his insurance business and keep his collection of mounted fish. As an avid fisherman his collection was willed to a museum at his death.

In 1958 the building was sold to Younker Brothers and was used as a warehouse

In 1982 the building was converted to loft condominiums and in 2004 Meredith Publishing “Designs on Downtown Showcase” as a fundraising home show for the Science Center of Iowa.