Old Brick History
Old Brick was erected 1856-65 and was originally the
North Presbyterian Church. It is the second oldest
building in Iowa City and one of the few surviving local
structures from the Civil War era.
The National Park Service placed it on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1973. Old Brick was saved
from near demolition amidst a whirlwind of public
controversy in 1977 when it was purchased by
Friends of Old Brick, a community group organized
to save the structure. The group later sold the building
to its current owner, Old Brick Lutheran Corporation,
which continues to maintain it for the greater Iowa City
community.
Old Brick's Renaissance
Old Brick has aged gracefully. Its Romanesque beauty
and sturdy Iowa construction weathered many storms,
literally and metaphorically.
However by the end of the twentieth century, inevitable
deterioration led to a 1997 restoration plan.
Grants from the State Historical Society of Iowa and
loans from Community Development Block Grant funding,
enabled Old Brick to begin a major restoration project that
included: new gutters, soffits, and downspouts, exterior
window trim repair, installation of a chair lift that
provided accessibility to the auditorium, and rebuilding a
handicapped accessible restroom.
More than 3,400 hours of volunteer labor combined with
the generosity of several vendors led to additional
improvements including remodeling the kitchen,
refinishing the entryway, stairs, upper hallway in the
west wing, and auditorium floor. Volunteers also painted
auditorium, remodeled a dressing room, installed new
flooring in the entryway, and planted new exterior
landscaping. New tables and chairs for public event and
air-conditioning in the auditorium were also donated.
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