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Washington Evening Journal
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History lives in Stellapolis Lofts
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WILLIAMSBURG — Small town history and rural American living intersect in a pair of Airbnb suites on the west side of the Williamsburg square.
With financial help from Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program, owner Grayson Jones transformed the former Masonic Lodge building into retail space and two spacious rental suites under the name Stellapolis Lofts.
“I had always noticed the building and thought it had a lot of potential,” said Jones.
Visitors stay at the Lofts when they’re in town for family events, and vacationers book the suites for getaways to the slow-paced life of rural America.
History
Williamsburg was founded in 1854 by Richard Williams, who operated a steam sawmill north of Old Man’s Creek. A native of Wales, Williams platted the town on 40 acres south of his farmland, east of Highway 149.
In 1856, he added the Williams Addition, forty acres southwest of the original site and the location of Williamsburg’s business district.
In 1860 Williamsburg petitioned to have its own post office, and Homer Paige was named postmaster. He named the new post office Stellapolis, or Stella’s City, after his youngest daughter.
The local Masonic Lodge took the name, and it continues to define the building at the corner of Welsh and Elm Streets.
Jones, also of Welsh descent, grew up in Williamsburg. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 2004, earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Northern Iowa and a master's degree from the University of Iowa in 2014.
Jones has worked for Farmer’s Bank in Williamsburg since 2013.
Remaking history
In 2023, Jones bought the building at 522 Elm St, but the idea came to him about four years earlier, he said. The Chamber of Commerce walked through the community on a tour with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which administers the catalyst grant.
“They were giving us feedback,” said Jones, “and I specifically remember them asking about that building.”
The building has a large footprint and IEDA said it was a good candidate for the catalyst grant. “I just kept that in the back of my mind,” said Jones.
The building featured 15 windows measuring three feet by eight feet, but they had been covered up. The original brick exterior was hidden by siding. On the first floor, the original tin tile ceiling was hidden by a drop ceiling.
Given the tall windows, Jones thought the second floor would make good short-term rental space. “You don’t see that anymore,” he said.
The building had a good foundation, no water issues in the basement, and the brick and roof were in good condition, said Jones, so he purchased it from Stellapolis Masonic Lodge.
The lodge symbol and the name Stellapolis Lodge #391 remains part of the building as a reminder of its history in the city.
Jones started his renovations on the upper floor, which consisted of two large spaces of about 1,400 square feet used for Masons meetings and a kitchenette.
The space was mostly lath and plaster, said Jones.
“I used all general contractors from Iowa County for all the work,” said Jones. “They were awesome to work with.”
“I really want to thank the Masonic Lodge and the IEDA and the City of Williamsburg. For also believing in the project,” said Jones.
Rehabilitating underutilized space is no small feat, Jones said. “It’s over 100 years old.”
A project like this would be difficult without grant money, said Jones. The catalyst grant gives up to $100,000 to renovate buildings in downtown districts with second-floor residences.
Jones believed that, done right, he could attract some very good tenants to the building, and those tenants would add value to the community.
“I really saw with Travis Schlabach did in downtown Marengo,” said Jones. “He set a good example” of how if you do it right you can attract good businesses.
The City of Williamsburg offered a $20,000 grant upon completion of the project.
“That’s kind of their way of investing” said Jones.
Keeping history alive
The two suites in Stellapolis Lofts were named for Richard Williams, who founded Williamsburg, and William Evans, who built the Stellapolis building and ran a shop out of it.
Stellapolis Lofts pay homage to the Welsh community that built the town, Jones said.
The suites were finished in November of 2023 and have been used by visitors attending weddings, funerals and graduations as well as couples looking for weekend getaways, said Jones.
A guest book and a map outside the suites shows where visitors have come from. “I’ve had a person from Brazil stay there,” said Jones. Others have come from the Philippines and Istanbul.
Usually people who stay at the Lofts have a connection to Iowa in some way.
The weekend tenants like the rural surroundings, said Jones. The shops. The park. “The little hustle and bustle of the small town.
“I’ve received numerous compliments about the small town atmosphere,” said Jones.
“And when they’re here, they buy stuff,” said Jones. And they have to eat. Williamsburg’s restaurants are well-run and offer good variety, Jones said.
Jones admits that visitors are seasonal. “As nice as Iowa winters are, they don’t attract a lot of guests.”
In Williamsburg, at least four building owners have received the grant and created short-term rental space. Williamsburg has had up to nine Airbnb rooms, said Jones.
“There’s a lot of really good competition,” said Jones. “I think we’re at max capacity.”
Jones could have put apartments in the Stellapolis building, but he felt the 12-foot ceilings and the history of the character of the building made it right for short-term rentals.
Airbnb people are looking for an experience, not just a room, said Jones. They can look out the window at the park and see the bustling town below. “City people aren’t used to that,” Jones said.
Anyone interested in booking a room at the Stellapolis Lofts can do so thought the Airbnb website. Booking at Stellapolisloftsiowa.staydirectly.com saves the Airbnb fee.
