May 15, 1895 – The Iowa City Weekly Republican prints pro vs. con statements from fourteen different prominent city leaders on the controversial subject of paving city streets with bricks.
Prior to the late summer of 1895, Iowa Citians, very often, found themselves stuck in the mud as they attempted to travel the streets of our fair community. You see, for nearly 60 years of Iowa City’s early history (1840-1900), all of our streets – including the main thoroughfares like Clinton Street, Iowa Avenue, and Dubuque Street – were dirt roads, with maybe a bit of crushed rock on top – if you were lucky.
One story is told about Judge George G. Wright, who was traveling into Iowa City via stagecoach in the 1840’s. As they were approaching Iowa City on The National Road, Wright asked the driver how long it would take to travel the final 12 miles into Iowa City. “About five hours,” the driver replied, “if we can find the bottom of the road!”
But, all that began to change with the eight-city-block brick-paving project of 1895 – beginning with Clinton Street across from Old Capitol. Thank goodness for Purington Pavers!
READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE.
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