ABOUT US
BRICKTOWN BREWERY HISTORY: THE COOPER WAGON STORY
In the mid 1800s, Augustine Cooper was traveling through the area when he broke his leg. He sought treatment in Dubuque, and decided to remain in the area because of financial difficulties.
Cooper took a job at a local wagon shop, and eventually was able to buy out the other owners. His wagons were known for their high quality, and his factory came to cover 27 acres (109,000 m²) and employ over 150 men. During the company's peek years, they produced over 5,000 wagons. Henry Ford even approached Cooper with a plan for Cooper to build automobiles - Cooper would build the carriage and Ford would produce the engines. Cooper refused because he thought the automobile was a passing fad. The rise of the automobile meant the demise of the Cooper Wagons company. Shortly after Cooper's death in 1919, the company ceased operations.
In time, all that would come to remain of Cooper's business was the 32,000 square foot (3,000 m²) main office and showroom. Over the next 30 years, the building would serve as storage space, offices, and various shops. In the mid-1950s the building was renovated into an apartment complex consisting of 30 apartments. During the second half of the 20th century, the downtown area declined due to economic hardship, the age of the buildings in the area, and the shift of the population to the west end.
In 1999, two young local entrepreneurs began a project to historically restore the building. Over $3 million dollars was spent restoring the building, which was completed by the end of 2001, when the Bricktown Entertainment Complex was created. This improvement helped spark the restoration of the lower Main Street into the bustling entertainment district it is today and helped continue the push in renovating the Ice Harbor.