The Little Brown Church – Miracle on Francisco Boulevard

By Jean Bartlett

Pacifica Tribune Correspondent

Photo by Jean Bartlett The Little Brown Church

Over the years there have been a lot of naysayers. The Little Brown Church on Francisco Blvd., built in 1910 by the Presbyterian Church, was too far gone to be made right. There were subterranean termites and wood boring beetles, a bee infestation. The roof needed replacing, the glulam beam supporting the roof needed replacing, copper gutters and drain pipes had to be installed, along with new metal flashing, and a new ridge vent. Then there was the repair and restoration of the bell tower, the replacement of the foundation, the repairs to siding and buttresses on the south side of the building, the removal of 14 bottlebrush trees holding moisture to the building, the north side exterior work, the dry wall, the paint, the trim, the baseboards, floors, electrical fixtures, the rough in plumbing and heating, the installation of a furnace and duct work and this was the short list of things to do. And before any of that, the Pacifica Historical Society, which decided to take this project on, had to campaign to their fellow Pacificans to save the Little Brown Church from being destroyed by the City.

The church, which was once a hubbub of activity with weddings, social events, meetings, and at times, student classrooms had housed the Pacifica Police Department for 18 years. When they vacated the building in 2001, the City pondered its options and by 2002, the City Council advised the historical society that there were no reserve funds to even develop a plan to show how this restoration projection could be accomplished. In 2003, the historical society consulted with an attorney who subsequently drafted an initiative to protect the LBC from being sold, demolished or moved to another location. And in 2004, the members of the historical society circulated petitions to place Proposition L on the November 4 ballot, and following the vote, the City of Pacifica agreed to let the Pacifica Historical Society assume the responsibility for restoration and financing of the Little Brown Church.

By 2011, with work proceeding as funds came in, the historical society had raised $298,447 in renovation fees. These fundraising events were through rummage sales, Bob Milne ragtime concerts at the Moose Lodge, Pacifica Islanders Football games, donation containers and "partnering" events at restaurants, spring teas, Sam's Castle tours, a prom at Winters Tavern, and the list goes on. Additionally, the Little Brown Church received $65,000 in pro bono donations of work and materials. Still, more money was needed.

American Disability Standards required a three-story lift in the church and handicap accessibility of upper and lower bathrooms, as well as handicap access from Salada Avenue. The gift shop needed expansion, work needed to be completed on stairways, hallways, front doors, room floors, storage rooms, the conference room, the warming kitchen. So the historical society's biggest constant fundraiser, their monthly rummage sales, continued with even more vigor.

"It has been a financial struggle for eight years," said Shirlee Gibbs, Restoration Chair of the Little Brown Church. "That's a long time to spend on a project."

But Gibbs, who is also the President of the Pacifica Lions Club, has a miracle to report. Recently the local Lions Club received an estate settlement from a Pacifican, and on the 11th of January, at a reception with the historical society at the Little Brown Church, 2 to 4 p.m., the Lions Club is giving the church $200,000. The public is invited to attend. The Lions Club donation will allow for the completion of repairs on the Little Brown Church, and it is anticipated the church will open its doors in early April.

Gibbs, who was installed as the 63rd President of the Pacifica Lions Club in the summer of 2012, said many people are unfamiliar with the world's largest service club organization. There are 46,000 Lions Clubs worldwide, with 1.35 million members. Each individual club's goal is to help their local community and to encourage service minded individuals to serve their community.

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The Little Brown Church - Miracle on Francisco Boulevard