History

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.

The Repointing Project

A major repointing project was completed in 2006 that involved cleaning the building's brick exterior, replacing mortar and damaged bricks and rebuilding the chimney. This project was financed with an $86,900 grant from the State Historical Society, a Community Development Block Grant loan of $50,000 and a matching $50,000 raised by the Old Brick Foundation and the Old Brick Board from businesses and individuals.