Saving Iowa City’s Old Brick – 1975-1977.

On May 31, 1972, Old Capitol became the very first building in Iowa City to be awarded the honor of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Over the next year and a half, three other buildings were added: Plum Grove (May 7, 1973), the First Congregational Church (June 18, 1973), and the College Block Building (July 23, 1973) located at 125 E. College Street. You can see the complete chronological list here.

The fourth building in Iowa City added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) – on August 28, 1973 – was North Presbyterian Church (Old Brick) – located at 26 E. Market Street.

In a September 12, 1973 Press-Citizen article announcing the NRHP acceptance (below), we find that this iconic church building – which was the long-time home of First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City – was apparently placed on the National Register seemingly without the consent of the church leadership team!

This September 12th, 1973 article alludes to “Prof. and Mrs. Joseph F. Baker” and their controversial stand in wanting to save the building when it was announced (in 1966) that First Presbyterian was planning on tearing down the iconic building in order to build a new church facility.

Here on this one web page, our goal – in this 50th year celebration of Friends of Old Brick (1975-2025) – today, known as Friends of Historic Preservation (FHP) – is to offer you a blow-by-blow account of the multiple-year battle to save and preserve Iowa City’s oldest surviving church building – North Presbyterian (Old School), which was known for much of the 20th century as First Presbyterian, and since 1975, goes by the more familiar name: Old Brick.

To best tell this story, we’ll use nearly 100 press clippings, taken primarily from the Iowa City Press-Citizen from 1966 to 1985. So, with that, let’s get back to how the story of saving Old Brick first got started…

So, our ‘Saving Iowa City’s Old Brick’ story actually all starts on May 15, 1966…

The November 23, 1967 edition of the Iowa City Press-Citizen (below) gives us more details about how controversial it was when the leadership team of First Presbyterian Church led a January 1967 congregational meeting where a majority of voting members (165 to 121) agreed to the plans a local architect had drawn up that included tearing down the 1856 church building in order to make room for a new church facility. Apparently, it’s that January 1967 meeting that deepened the division that first started after a congregational meeting – held on May 15, 1966 – when an even smaller majority agreed to hire an architect for that same purpose!

Based on the above article, it’s not surprising to find that UI Professor Joseph E. Baker, and his wife, Matilda were the ones who later steer-headed the “official” application (see pics below) for the National Register of Historic Places, which, when approved (as it was on August 28, 1973), 1) made Old Brick eligible for federal funding earmarked for preservation, and 2) made it much more complicated and controversial for any building owner to tear it down.

Now, back to that controversial May 15, 1966 business meeting where all these ‘demolition’ ideas first sprouted. Below is the response “letter” Joseph & Matilda Baker placed in the May 28, 1966 edition of The Iowa City Press-Citizen, entitled An Open Letter to the People of Johnson County…

After that May 15th business meeting where it was announced the church would be moving forward on tearing down the old church building in order to build a new facility, the Bakers responded with this…

This response letter the Bakers placed in the Press-Citizen started a long, drawn-out church conflict that eventually led – in late 1967 – to the Bakers being told that they were going to be put “on trial” with the Southeast Iowa Presbytery for “disrupting the peace and unity of First Presbyterian Church”.

The January 31, 1968 edition of The Iowa City Press-Citizen (below) gives us the results of that week-long trial where Professor Joseph E. Baker and his wife, Matilda, were found ‘guilty’ of causing church division by leading the charge to save “Old Brick” from the wrecking ball…

*(L-0128)* ***The Iowa City “Baker Trial” story made national headlines and below is an AP Wire Photo dated January 31, 1968 and entitled ‘Source of Controversy’.***

Before we go any further into this Saving Iowa City’s Old Brick story, it’s important to give you some of the background of this iconic building, and why it is such a significant facility that needed to be saved from demolition. There’s no better way to do this brief ‘history lesson’ than to share with you the writings of Iowa City’s Mr. History – Irving Weber…

In the midst of all the controversy, on **September 26, 1973**, Iowa City historian – **Irving Weber** – gives an expansive overview of the history of **North (First) Presbyterian Church in Iowa City** – which first began as a congregation in 1840. Old Brick was the second church building of this congregation, with construction beginning in 1856 and being completed in 1865. A large church steeple – 100 feet high – was added in 1869, was blown off in a massive windstorm in 1877, and rebuilt with a crenellated belfry, giving Old Brick its distinctive appearance. Here’s more from Irving…

***Old Brick is the oldest surviving church building in Iowa City, and alongside its iconic companion – Old Capitol, is the second oldest public building still in use in the city.***

April 18, 1863 – In the midst of the Civil War, the members of North Presbyterian called for a Congregational Meeting to discuss the urgent need to finish construction on their church building that began seven years earlier in 1856. See article (above left) from The State Democratic Press.

For more reading about the earliest days of North Presbyterian Church, click here.

So, after 125+ years (1840-1967) of worshipping in Iowa City, and over one-hundred of those years of doing so in Old Brick, the Presbyterians announce in 1966 that it was finally time to move on. As we mentioned earlier, the original plan was to tear down the old building and replace it with a new one. But, when that plan made folks like the Bakers and others hit the ceiling, the whole subject was quietly taken off the front burner (yet never fully forgotten), especially after all of the negative national publicity that surrounded the public trial of the Bakers in 1967 and 1968. That brings us now to the Fall of 1972…

In a Press-Citizen article published on September 16, 1972, it’s found that Robert Stark, president of First Presbyterian’s Board of Directors brought up the subject of Old Brick once again by approaching the University of Iowa Board of Regents, inquiring if the University would be interested in purchasing the church property on East Market Street for $215,000!

As you can see from the article, the Regents, at this time, wisely said that they preferred to stay out of the fray, referring to the late 1960’s controversy between their very own Professor Baker and the Presbyterian church.

Now, let’s fast forward to one year later (above left), where the November 5, 1973 edition of the Press-Citizen announces that First Presbyterian has now finalized its expansion plans by deciding to begin construction on a new building east of town at 2701 Rochester Avenue!

This announcement, of course, once again turns up the heat on the Old Brick “disposal” plan, since now, rather than replacing the iconic building – which has now been placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) – the Presbyterians have decided to ignore the demolition issue and simply focus on selling “the present property at 26 East Market”.

We’re guessing that this decision was the less aggressive approach to the tender subject, hoping that any new buyer will have to deal with the NRHP preservation issue, and not the church!

Now, let’s move on to the Spring of 1975. With the new First Presbyterian church building opening up in September 1975 (see above right), the details of a pending sale of Old Brick are finally leaked to the public. As it turns out, First Presbyterian has renegotiated with the University, agreeing, now, to sell the property for only $140,000, with one of the primary terms of the contract stating that Old Brick would need to be torn down prior to the University taking possession!

We’re guessing that this sale option – which, as it turned out was agreed upon in January 1974, but not made public until the spring of 1975 – was not the first preference of the Presbyterians, since it did make it clear that it would be the church’s responsibility to clear the old property before the University would pay them $140,000 for the land. But, as you know, many times, money speaks, so, despite the NRHP listing, there it is…

And, yup, you guessed it! When word got out on the streets of Iowa City about this controversial sale agreement, the battle for Old Brick was back on – and this time, the whole thing will get downright mean and dirty – and long! So, on June 30, 1975, a new city-wide committee was formed to battle against this outlandish sale agreement. The group took the name: Friends of the Old Brick Presbyterian Church – later simply called Friends of Old Brick (FOB) – and the July 1, 1975 (below left) and July 7, 1975 (below right) editions of the Press-Citizen describe this group’s earliest actions…

Interestingly, the July 7th article states that the Johnson County Historical Society steps into the fray as well, sending a support letter to the University of Iowa Board of Regents, stating the great need to save Old Brick from demolition.

The September 11, 1975 edition of the Press-Citizen offers us one of the most creative ideas used in drawing attention to the Save Old Brick campaign. James Juilfs dresses himself as Rev. Michael Hummer, and climbs the church’s belfry, promising to position himself there until $20,000 is raised for the purpose of saving the church organ, the pews, and light fixtures!

Thanks to Ethan Fox of Humming Studios LLC for bringing these 1975 photos of Juilfs back to life!

September 1975 was full of ups and downs for the Save Old Brick project. First, there was hope that Lutheran Campus Ministries might step up and purchase the building, but a September 10, 1975 article (below left) indicates that the executive board of the Iowa Synod, Lutheran Church of America has major concerns with the idea, refusing to move forward until more discussions can be held in December.

In an article published September 16, 1975 (above right), we find that the dealer who had planned to remove the church’s pipe organ gives a reprieve to the project, allowing more time for fund-raising. Apparently, this good news is convincing enough for James Juilfs to end his fund-raising vigil and climb down from the church’s belfry!

The fall months of October, November & December 1975 contain a series of good news reports: On October 28, 1975, we find that the Lutheran boards approve the idea of the local campus ministry purchasing and utilizing Old Brick, and on December 12, 1975, the University Board of Regents – based on the interest level shown by the Lutherans – extends the demolition deadline from December 31, 1975 to May 1, 1976. In the meantime, it is reported on October 13, 1975 that Friends of Old Brick (FOB) has asked Governor Robert Ray to step into the fray.

Good news! It’s reported in the February 23, 1976 edition of the Press-Citizen (above) that since the demolition deadline has been extended to May 1, and the Lutherans are now showing interest in the building, Friends of Old Brick (FOB) is now opening up a larger funding drive to save the building!

The fund-raising roller-coaster continues its nasty ups-n-downs. On March 2, 1976, it’s announced that the Iowa State Historical Department will be giving $9,000 toward the preservation project. Ten days later – on March 12, 1976 – the word is given that the Iowa Synod of the Lutheran Church has voted to reject the idea of purchasing Old Brick – a devastating blow to all. As a result, Friends of Old Brick (FOB) begin to look at purchasing the building themselves, and efforts are made to involve the City of Iowa City in the project.

With the Lutherans now out of the picture, it’s reported in the April 1, 1976 Press-Citizen, that Friends of Old Brick (FOB) has come up with an alternative plan where the University of Iowa Board of Regents would still proceed with the $140,000 purchase from First Presbyterian, but rather than tearing down the iconic Old Brick, FOB would pay $1 for the building, renovate it, run programming, and be responsible for the upkeep. April 1976 articles keep the public updated, but by month’s end, the only good news is that the Regents and the Presbyterians have granted FOB two additional months – from May 1st to August 1st – to raise more money!

June 1976 finally results in some more positive action from the University of Iowa Board of Regents, but it’s one of those good news/bad news propositions. As reported in the June 10, 1976 edition of the Press-Citizen, the Regents approve of FOB’s purchase plan first proposed in April, but now, the Regents also insist that the leadership of First Presbyterian needs to fully agree with the creative idea as well.

It’s July 1, 1976 and it’s America’s Bicentennial celebration. On this special occasion, the Iowa City Press-Citizen publishes a 76-page special edition that covers the history of Iowa City and Johnson County. This offers a unique opportunity for Friends of Old Brick (FOB) to remind local citizens of the historical importance of the second oldest building still standing in Iowa City.

One whole page of this **July 1, 1976** 76-page special edition is devoted to the rich church history of Iowa City. Included in the full page article is a brief history of Old Brick, including a photograph with text reminding readers that the building is “currently in danger of being demolished.”

In July of 1976, the whole issue surrounding the survival of Old Brick moves from church and university board rooms to the courtroom. In a front page article in the Press-Citizen – July 12, 1976 – the whole story is spelled out very clearly for readers in Time Nearly Out For Old Brick.

As it turns out, in July 1976, two Iowa District Judges – Ansel Chapman and William Eads – enter into the legal matters surrounding the demolition of Old Brick. Notice from the clippings above, how intense the debate is getting. The July 13, 1976 edition of the Press-Citizen, for example, tells of a police report where an anonymous caller to First Presbyterian threatens trouble at the new church if they don’t agree to the new Old Brick buyout plan!

The one piece of good news is that Judge Chapman issues a temporary ‘cease & desist’ order in mid-July, stopping workmen from doing any demolition prep-work until Judge Eads rules on the case in late July.

But despite all the controversy – and the continued fund-raising – by month’s end, nothing much has been resolved, with Judge Eads simply putting everything on hold while all of the legal questions are pushed over into a full trial beginning on September 16, 1976. As the July 27, 1976 front-page Press-Citizen article asks, Old Brick Can’t Be Wrecked, But Can It Be Saved?

In September 1976, the whole issue surrounding the sale and demolition of Old Brick finally goes to a full trial. As you can see from the articles below, even UI President Willard Boyd is subpoenaed, appearing in the court room to share the University’s side of the Old Brick story…

On September 22, 1976, the Press-Citizen reports that the trial is suddenly interrupted when word comes that there might be some sort of out-of-court settlement in the works! Hmm. Curious minds want to know!

So, throughout October 1976, the UI Board of Regents, the Friends of Old Brick legal team – now working under the name of Old Brick Associates, Inc., and the leadership of First Presbyterian, go round-n-round, trying to work out the details of a possible out-of-court settlement. By late October, the Press-Citizen still wonders: Old Brick: Settled?

Throughout the remaining two months of 1976, all the parties continue looking at options that might settle the Old Brick dilemma outside of court. As it usually is, so much of the problem centers around money and where Old Brick Associates, Inc. will come up with the needed funding to not only buy the building, but also renovate and run it. By the end of December, the highly-controversial option of using city money to help fund the project is once again being discussed.

As 1976 ends, there is a strong push for the city to throw in $40,000 toward the Old Brick project…

Over the first three months of 1977, several key issues develop. First, the city decides to not help with any funding, but $70,000 is contributed by the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission, so by the end of March, things actually look very positive that an agreement might just, finally, be found! On March 28, 1977, the Press-Citizen asks, Old Brick Settlement Near?

On April 4, 1977 – nearly two years after the formation of Friends of Old Brick (FOB) – it is announced that the leadership team and congregation of First Presbyterian has finally agreed to the business plan put forth by Old Brick Associates, Inc. The Press-Citizen headline says it all – Old Brick Settled.

So, on Friday, April 15, 1977, the papers are signed in downtown Iowa City and Old Brick Associates, Inc. becomes the new owner of Old Brick – 26 East Market Street in Iowa City. The deal is done, and the decade-long drama of push-n-shove over Old Brick is finally over!

Over the remainder of 1977, the Press-Citizen has much fewer Old Brick stories to put on the front page, but these two (below) make it, focusing, not on the demolition battle, but on the restoration project that is now underway.

Other articles, such as the ones above, appear in the Press-Citizen in 1977, as Old Brick transitions from ‘controversial’ to ‘good news’ stories…

As we close, we thought you’d like to see a sampling of the six key editorials published by the Iowa City Press-Citizen throughout the two-year transition period of Old Brick, starting with October 30, 1975 (below left) and March 19, 1976 (below right)…

Next up are Press-Citizen editorials from April 5, 1976 (below left) and July 14, 1976 (below right)…

Finally, we have Iowa City Press-Citizen editorials from August 9, 1976 (below left) and April 5, 1977 (below right)…

While most of this webpage uses articles from The Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Daily Iowan ran its share of articles on the subject of Old Brick as well. Here is just a small sampling…

Above are Daily Iowan articles from September 28, 1976 (far left), April 15, 1977 (center), and July 26, 1977 (far right).

Finally, allow us to share a taste of a full-page article taken from The Des Moines Register’s Parade Magazine published on Sunday, June 12, 1975…

As Iowa City and the University of Iowa opened up fall classes in 1977, Old Brick was, once again, there to serve the community in a whole new capacity…

In the spring of 1985 – eight years after Old Brick was finally saved from the wrecking ball, the May 9, 1985 edition of the Iowa City Press-Citizen celebrated the anniversary by interviewing the original members of Friends of Old Brick (FOB): Tom Baldridge, Corrine Suter, Emil Trott, Dorothy Whipple, Jim Harris, and Sandra Eskin (pictured above). Though the article has a couple of dates wrong, (the Old Brick battle took 11 years, not 12 – 1966-1977, and the official signing date was in April 1977 – not 1978), this clipping is still a valuable overview of the hard work that went into saving Old Brick.

Today, Old Brick stands proudly as a unique and iconic building that has two special designations: 1) listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and 2) has been given “Landmark Status” by the City of Iowa City.

Here in 2025, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Friends of Old Brick, allow us to close with a few special newspaper pics of this iconic classic…

Here’s to you – Old Brick – long may you live!

It’s only appropriate to close this page with a tip of the old hat to Professor Joseph E. Baker and Matilda Baker. Thanks for your brave hearts and your willingness to stand your ground in helping us save and preserve Iowa City’s Old Brick. Godspeed!

**Joseph Ellis Baker** was a professor of Victorian literature in the English Department at the University of Iowa (1935-1973). Baker, his wife **Mary (Matilda) Janes Baker**, and his family were long-time members of the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. As stated earlier, the Bakers led the charge to save ‘Old Brick’ when the church leadership team decided to tear down the 1856 church building and replace it with a new facility. When the Bakers, along with other members, published “An Open Letter to the People of Johnson County” and circulated petitions in an effort to save ‘Old Brick’. In October 1967, they were told that they were “disrupting the peace and unity of the church” and that they would be tried by their local church Session. Found guilty, the Bakers appealed their case to the Presbytery and the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly. After several years of wrangling in church bodies and a civil suit, the Bakers won the right to rejoin their church. The Bakers were also foundational in the formation of **Friends of Old Brick Association**. Professor Baker (1905-1985) and Matilda (1905-1997) are both buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Here’s a tip of the old hat to Professor Joseph Baker and Matilda Baker for their brave stand!

And, of course, we need to also offer a tip of the old hat to Pastor Jack L. Zerwas (1919-1996) – who faithfully served First Presbyterian in Iowa City for 23 years (1963-1986). While caught, this time, on the other side of the argument surrounding Old Brick, Rev. Zerwas was a faithful warrior for Jesus, serving his church family here in Iowa City before retiring to New Mexico. Godspeed, dear friend, Godspeed!

In 1981, Irving Weber wrote a story for the Iowa City Press-Citizen – Church’s Bells Tolled Many Tales. In it, he gave both the story of Hummer’s Bell and the replacement bell purchased by First Presbyterian in 1872. You can read more here.

April 18, 1863 – In ***The State Democratic Pres***s, the members of North Presbyterian call for a Congregational Meeting to discuss the urgent need to finish construction on their church building which began seven years earlier in 1856.

May 28, 1966 – UI Professor Joseph Baker and his wife Matilda – long-time members of First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City – publish an open letter to the people of Johnson County, protesting the proposal that Old Brick be torn down and replaced with a new church facility.

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.

**August 28, 1973 – Old Brick – long-time home of First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as North Presbyterian Church.**

June 30, 1975 – A new city-wide committee is formed to battle against the sale of Iowa City’s Old Brick which would result in this iconic building being razed. The group takes the name: Friends of the Old Brick Presbyterian Church – and later is simply called Friends of Old Brick (FOB).

***September 11, 1975 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that James Juilfs has climbed the Old Brick belfry and will not come down until $20,000 is raised to save the church and its contents.***

***September 28, 1976 – The Daily Iowan publishes a powerful editorial cartoon that addresses the need to save Old Brick.***

**April 15, 1977** – Papers are finally signed in downtown Iowa City and **Old Brick Associates** becomes the new owner of **Old Brick – 26 East Market Street** inIowa City. The deal is done, and the decade-long drama of push-n-shove over Old Brick is finally over!

Kudos to the amazing resources below for the many quotes, photographs, etc. used on this page.

Just a quick reminder – in order to access the resources listed from The Iowa City Press-Citizen, a subscription to Newspapers.com or Ancestry.com will be necessary.

The North Presbyterian Church, State Democratic Press, April 18, 1863, p 3

An Open Letter To The People Of Johnson County, Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 28, 1966, p 3

UI Professor, Wife Face Church Trials, Exclusion, Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 23, 1967, p 4

Bakers ‘Guilty’, Suspension from Church Ordered, Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 31, 1968, pp 1, 4A

Baker, Joseph Ellis. Papers, 1945-1983, ArchiveGrid

Joseph E. Baker, Find-A-Grave

Mary Matilda Janes Baker, Find-A-Grave

Regents Stay Out Of Church Dispute, Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 16, 1972, p 2

North Presbyterian Church, National Register Nomination Papers, April 6, 1973, National Park Service

Church Put On National Historic List, Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 12, 1973, p 34

How’s Your Building IQ?, Irving Weber, Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 26, 1973, p 5

Presbyterian Congregation Approves New Church Plans, Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 5, 1973, p 19