January 31, 1968 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that UI Professor Joseph Baker and his wife Matilda – long-time members of First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City – have been excommunicated from the Presbyterian church for stirring up support to save Old Brick from the wrecking ball.

When it was announced in May 1966 that the leadership team of First Presbyterian Church had decided to tear down their iconic church building on Market Street, replacing it with a new facility, all hell broke loose within the congregation. Later that same month, UI Professor Joseph Baker and his wife, Matilda – long-time members of the church – published an open letter to the people of Johnson County.

By 1968, the Bakers had been excommunicated from the church, accused of causing division by steer-heading a city-wide effort to save ‘Old Brick’. Between 1975 and 1977, the preservation effort continued – working under the name of Friends of Old Brick. Standing their ground against all odds, by April 1977, Old Brick was saved from certain destruction. Today – 50 years later – the hard work of historic preservation continues, with Friends of Historic Preservation now leading the way.

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