Ladies' Literary Club

The Ladies' Literary Club 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.[2]

For the building in Ypsilanti, Michigan, see Ladies' Literary Club Building.

For the building in Salt Lake City, Utah, see Ladies Literary Club Clubhouse.

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 (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.[3]

Major additions and renovations were completed in 1931.[3] 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.[4] In 2018, a group of investors purchased the building with the intention of renovating it to become to become The Lit event space.[2]

Over the years, the club has hosted speeches by Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.[3]

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.[3] This includes a Tiffany glass window appraised at $225,000.[4]

References

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