Ladies' Literary Club

The Ladies' Literary Club also known as Wednesday Literary Club[2] was built as a social club building located at 61 Sheldon Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1] As of 2019, the building is being renovated into a social event space known as The Lit.[3]

Ladies' Literary Club
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	61 Sheldon St., SE., Grand Rapids, Michigan
Coordinates	42°57′45″N 85°40′01″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1887
Architect	W.G. Robinson
Architectural style	Romanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	71000400[1]
Added to NRHP	October 26, 1971

History

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 architect W.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 to Calvin 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 by Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.[4]

Description

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 massive Richardsonian Romanesque style. The building has French plane and stained glass windows.[4] This includes a Tiffany glass window appraised at $225,000.[5]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. http://www.carmelclayhistory.org/carmel-library
3. Justin Dawes (July 4, 2019). "Historic downtown building becoming event space". Grand Rapids Business Journal.
4. Constance Henslee (May 11, 1971), National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ladies' Literary Club, National Park Service
5. Brian McVicar (November 12, 2014). "Why Calvin College is selling historic Ladies Literary Club of Grand Rapids". MLive.