The Bell: A Story of Bronze and Bricks

The Bell: A Story of Bronze and Bricks is a feature-length documentary that takes viewers on a journey across nearly two centuries of Iowa history through the story of a building, a bell, and the people who refused to let either be forgotten.

See a 40 second trailer here! https://youtu.be/T4OmLrPbuf4

At the center of this saga stands Old Brick, Iowa City’s oldest surviving church and a landmark woven into the cultural fabric of the state. Constructed in 1856, its walls witnessed the triumphs and failures of a young frontier community. At its heart rang a massive bronze bell that summoned congregants, marked civic moments, and gave the building its soul.

But the story of the Hummer Bell is no ordinary tale. It begins in 1837, with the fiery Reverend Michael Hummer, who became infamous for scandal and betrayal at the North Presbyterian Church. It winds through decades of community struggle, fires that left scars both literal and spiritual, and the stunning revelation that the bell had been carried away—eventually resurfacing not in Iowa, but in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For over a century, the bell remained in exile. Meanwhile, Old Brick itself fell into disrepair, nearly demolished in the 1970s until concerned citizens like Joseph and Matilda Baker and Jim Juilfs and Diane Peterson rallied to save it. Their grassroots fight kept the building alive as a cultural center, yet the absence of the bell has always been felt.

Today, Old Brick stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder that the past is never truly gone—it only waits for us to listen. And now, its story will be told in full.