Bostick House "In the News"

New York Times, July 9, 2004
"36 Hours in Iowa City"

"A favorite with visiting writers, the Bostick Guest House was Iowa City's original town hall..."

Sunday World Herald, August 15, 2004
"The Write Place"

"A favorite with visiting writers, the Bostick Guest House..."

Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 19, 2005
"Iowa City's Finest Also the Oldest"

"Formerly a Civil War recruiting station, it is now a Guest House."
"Worn down from 154 years of use, the limestone step welcomes visitors to Iowa City's first town hall, a building that now boasts apartments and guest rooms with kitchenettes, down comforters and hardwood floors."

Guestbook

Thanks for all the amenities during our stay at the Bostick House! It’s the way to experience Iowa City! Location, location, location! And the comfort level here is just like home! We’ll recommend the Bostick Guest House experience to all our friends who might be passing through Iowa/Iowa City. It’s a wonderful house! Great restoration and great history! We loved it! Hope to be back soon.

Just great!! Walked everywhere, things have really changed in the last 30 years. (We’re alums from the late 60’s) Had a delightful time - a treasure of a house. Spacious and so well located. We even got out to the Amanas for dinner and enjoyed the Jazz in the center of downtown later. Hope we’ll be back - a great place to go to school and a wonderful place to revive old memories.

Six weeks has gone too quickly! However, I have had the opportunity to see Iowa become “green” as spring arrived and have even managed to experience several “warm Iowa days”. The convenience of Bostick and Jefferson House to the University and Hospital has assisted this stay greatly and your assistance has been wonderful. Thank you. The Java House great tea and coffee have helped me to feel at home. Now if I could just get John’s Grocery store to stock good, quality Australian wine.... Best wishes!

Thanks for everything. Bostick House reflects your distinguished taste. During the one month that we’ve stayed here, we felt like it was home. We’re lucky to have found the best place to stay at Iowa City. Looking forward to hosting you in Istanbul.

One forgets how appealing Iowa City is, especially at this time of year. The heat past, the bleak winter still distant. This place, Bostick House, seems so perfectly a part of it. Neither hotel nor bed and breakfast, but rather some friend’s digs, a friend who happens to be away but runs a trim ship. I especially like the shampoo and the nearness of John’s (Grocery) which carries everything except fur coats.

For the second time we have enjoyed our “home” away from home. It affords us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy our three families in Iowa City, while still having our own space. You have done a beautiful job of restoration. Steve, I sense that the Bogaard work ethic and desire for excellence has been passed on through the generations.

My family thanks you for making us at home in your Apartment this semester. We were very comfortable and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Thank you for your exquisite hospitality. The house is a haven of peace, light, and goodness. I enjoyed just staying here and read or write, in the wonderfuÌl calmness the suite provides.

We spent four exciting weeks in Iowa with sun, thunderstorms, rain and fair weather. Our life was rich with science, school-life, and leisure weekends. The Bostick House was the focal point, to which we gladly returned after long workdays and extended trips. Thanks for the kind welcome and hospitality.

Between the fabulous bookstores (and booksellers), the amazing cinnamon rolls of the Java House, and the pitch perfect hospitality here on gilbert, Iowa City is tough to leave - though always great to look forward to.

It was a pleasure to be the guest of this wonderful house. I will bring with me as the best souvenir of this city the memory of its refined and elegance, its warrm atmosphere which makes a guest feel to be immediately at home. Thank you for creating all this, and keeping it so alive.

Here on a business trip, I feel like I’m on vacation. In one night have recovered from the stress of the big city (Chicago) thanks to the atmosphere of the house. Wonderful! Peaceful! Everything was lovely.

The world is Round...so looking for the next time I can come and stay here. This is the first time experienced the full winter of the United States. Its a perfect holiday place to stay in peace.

A family Thanksgiving in a beautiful Iowa town and a great place to rest each night - wonderful! Thank you once again.

Thank you for the warm hospitality and for making me e&Mac220;njoy such an elegant and historical suite! Your personal touches were much appreciated - the garden flowers, the English lavendar and the warm aroma of coffee in the mornings. Hoping someday I could return here, this time to quench my “literary soul”! Much luck and God’s blessings.

Fabulous accomodationss!! Much better than staying in a hotel. We will highly recomend it to our friends who may wish to visit your beautiful and clean city. Many thanks for the hospitality.

I’ve come back to Iowa City after 25 years and have rediscovered an Iowa State of Mind, old friends, and in these rooms, something stolid and midwestern and peaceful. Thanks.

Thanks for putting up a weary traveller for a night. It was great to stay in a house of such distinction! I went for a run down Gilbert, and when coming back, felt like I was coming home.

My friend and I have been coming to Iowa City for many years to visit her son and wife, but have always stayed in a motel on the “outskirts”. Your lovely Inn has made us feel far more a part of the community. We both live in historic homes, so the immediate comfort level was high - plus we didn’t have to dust! The inn truly enhanced our stay. Thank you.

Dear Innkeeper, Has anyone every written of a bad experience at your Bostick House? Well, we can’t either! The Suite was just what we needed for our weekend getaway. It is so quiet here a highlight of our trip was a guided tour by Doug at John’s Market. Thank you for that hint - I am originally from NW Iowa and my beau is not. He now knows of true Iowa hospitality here and in your city. Thank you.

It has been a wonderful “vacation retreat” while waiting for our condo to be finished. The Bostick House is a wonderful location to catch the flavor of living in Iowa City. We have not come far - Cedar Rapids - but as the saying goes - there is Iowa and then there’s Iowa City! We have found this to be true, but have enjoyed learning aabout all the things going on in the area. You are a great Innkeeper. Thank you.

You’ve done an excellent job in converting and maintaining the Bostick House as guest quarters. Pampered without being fulled over. As my research continues to shed light on the E. Jefferson St. Neighborhood, I’m glad my work will help preserve this area as a National Register historic district. My efforts are small, however, compared to those of you who invest and cherish its fine old buildings for the next generation of Iowa Citians and their guests.

An— apple, a steaming mug of coffe, a restful night under a cloud of feathers...what more could ayone want? Your home was a delightful respite after a long journey. Thank you!

It is a great pleasure to be at Iowa City for a while. Bostick Guest House is a lovely place where we feel at home immediately!

Thank you very much for everything. It has been once again a great pleasure to be here enjoying the warmness and beauty of your guest house. You are doing a great job! With all my best wishes!

Thanksfulness? There is no gift so fine as the conscious act of grace and kindness? - Francisco. We want to thank you for being so accommodating. Staying here really made our temporary situation more enjoyable. You’ll have to come by for a visit and see our new home. With Thankfulness,

This was the perfect apartment for me this semester. Beautiful, clean, smoke-free and quiet. I safely walked to work each day and also was happy to enjoy the English language program at St. Paul’s University Center next door. Thank you for the kindness. I look forward to returning.

We are relocating from California and the Apartment at the Bostick House is the perfect place to spend our first few months. Thank you for everything!