Ladies' Literary Club | |
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| Location | 61 Sheldon St., SE.,Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 42°57′45″N85°40′01″W / 42.96250°N 85.66694°W /42.96250; -85.66694 (Ladies' Literary Club) |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1887 (1887) |
| Architect | William G. Robinson |
| Architectural style | Romanesque,Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000400[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1971 |
TheLadies' Literary Club also known as Wednesday Literary Club[2] was built as a social club building located at 61 Sheldon Street SE inGrand Rapids, Michigan. It was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1] As of 2019, the building is being renovated into a social event space known asThe Lit.[3]
In 1869, a group of Grand Rapids women organized a small history class. In 1870, this grew into the Ladies' Literary Association, which was formally organized as an association that year. The Association was influential in opening a public library in the city. In 1882, the group was re-incorporated at the Ladies' Literary Club to promote literary and scientific subjects. The club grew, and in 1887 they decided to construct their own building. The Club purchased a lot and hired local architectWilliam G. Robinson to design a clubhouse. Ground was broken in 1887, and construction was completed by December of that year. Major additions and renovations were completed in 1931.[4]
Major additions and renovations were completed in 1931.[4] In 2005, the club disbanded due to declining membership. In 2006, the remaining members transferred ownership of the building toCalvin College, which made $1 million worth of improvements to the building. The college used the building as a music, theater and entertainment venue. However, in 2014, they decided to sell the building.[5] In 2018, a group of investors purchased the building with the intention of renovating it to become The Lit event space.[3]
Over the years, the club has hosted speeches byTheodore Roosevelt,William Howard Taft, andWoodrow Wilson.[4]
The Ladies' Literary Club is a two-story brick structure with a tall single-story wing attached to the rear housing an auditorium. Bluestone trim is used around the doors and windows, and it has a slate roof. Although the building is substantially brick rather than stone, the design exhibits the massiveRichardsonian Romanesque style. The building has French plane and stained glass windows.[4] This includes aTiffany glass window appraised at $225,000.[5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
