Old Building + New Purpose: Good Tidings Church is now Steeplejack Brewing Company

July 21, 2021 By in Business History, Neighborhood History, Observed, Remodel Tags: , , 2 Comments

The scaffolds and fences have come down from around the former First Universalist Church of Good Tidings / Metropolitan Community Church at NE 24th and Broadway, and soon the doors will open on the restored and repurposed 112-year-old church building.

The former First Universalist Church of Good Tidings was built in 1909 and has recently been restored and repurposed. It opens to the public soon. Photographed July 2021.

We wrote about the project here last November: neighborhood residents Brody Day and Dustin Harder have been adapting the old church into the new Steeplejack Brewing Company. The two acquired the building in April 2019 from the Metropolitan Community Church which was downsizing to a building in Southeast Portland following 42 years in the space. At the time, another offer was on the table from a local developer who wanted to demolish the church and build a five-story condominium on the site. After a meeting with the pastor and the congregation—and assurance that Harder and Day were planning to keep the building intact—they successfully closed the deal.

Steeplejack opens quietly to the public starting on Friday, July 23rd from 3:00-10:00 p.m. with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, July 31st, when regular hours begin from 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

The old church has the distinction of being one of a few buildings in Portland dedicated by U.S. Presidents. William Howard Taft sealed up a small time capsule and set the cornerstone during the building’s opening on October 4, 1909. Day and Harder have the original box (it had been opened some years ago) and plan to set a new cornerstone, sealing in the old box, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 31st. Next week, they’ll be accepting very small time-travel items that might go into the box.

We had a chance to visit the newly-completed restoration as part of Steeplejack’s soft opening this week and offer these glimpses of the “new” old space:

The front door and location of the historic cornerstone and time capsule, which will be placed on Saturday. July 31 at 2:00 p.m. The original cornerstone was set by U.S. President William Howard Taft on October 4, 1909.
The west face of the building. Note the heart shape in the large stained-glass window, and then have a look on the wall inside (below) as the sun shines through.
An interior scene. Tables built with original structural wood reclaimed during the restoration.

2 responses

  1. LOVE that old building! Grew up on Hancock Street two blocks north. So glad to see someone follow through and develop a business and not destroy the lines of a good old lady. My paper route drop box was just across NE Broadway in front of the Roberson Pharmacy. Every day I would look up and see such a beautiful sight. I am curious if Dustin Harder is related to the company Harder Mechanical? Our family worked with Mike Harder of (then) Harder Plumbing on (then) Union Avenue. Dad had his business at 2305 NE Union Ave for several years. He then moved to the old Safeway Store on 24th and Broadway just across 24th from the church. Thanks for your work on history. Del Schulzke

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  2. Hi,
    I was worried this place was gonna be torn down for years! Especially with all the cars whooshing by.
    Beautiful church building!
    There are still a few “hidden” architectural treasures like this around the city core…
    This post recalls the route of the Broadway trolley you posted in the past!
    Sincerely, Billy

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