Post by Sara Foulk

In 1909, Springfield, Ohio was one of the most productive manufacturing cities in the country. Nearly 47,000 residents. Known globally as the "Floral Center of the World" and the "City of Roses," it boasted dozens of large greenhouses that shipped millions of roses internationally. A publishing company printing millions of magazines. Factory floors running around the clock. Frank Alden was right in the middle of it, running the Champion Chip Company in the Cartmell Building located at the corner of Main and Center streets. Then a fire broke out in the middle of the night. An overheated stove pipe. Losses estimated between $10,000 and $25,000. Nearly everything gone. Here is what makes this story worth telling. Frank Alden had already made arrangements to move his business to a new building on North Fountain Avenue. The fire happened just days before the scheduled move. He didn't quit. He moved what survived and rebuilt his company at 301 North Fountain. There is something every business owner understands about that moment. The loss. The decision to keep going anyway. The choice to show up at a new address and start again. Springfield was built by people who made that choice over and over. This address has a story. And we’re just the latest chapter. We look forward to continue sharing it with you in the days ahead… We were Built on this Block. Champion Group brokered by eXp Realty #BuiltOnThisBlock #springfieldohiohistory #ChampionGroup #storytime #history