Ladies' Literary Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Ladies' Literary Club
|
|
 |
|
| Location | 61 Sheldon St., SE., Grand Rapids, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | William G. Robinson |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000400 |
| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1971 |
The Ladies' Literary Club building, also known as the Wednesday Literary Club, is a historic social club building. It is located at 61 Sheldon Street SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Today, Rye Venue Management owns the building. It is operated by The Penny Loafer, LLC.
Contents
The Club's Story
How the Club Started
In 1869, a group of women in Grand Rapids started a small history class. This class grew quickly. By 1870, it became the Ladies' Literary Association. This group was very important in helping to open the city's first public library.
In 1882, the group officially became the Ladies' Literary Club. Their goal was to learn about literature and science. As more people joined, the club decided they needed their own building. In 1887, they bought a piece of land. They hired a local architect named William G. Robinson to design their clubhouse. Construction began in 1887 and was finished by December of that year.
Changes Over Time
The building had major updates in 1931. By 2005, the club had fewer members and decided to close. In 2006, the remaining members gave the building to Calvin College. The college spent $1 million to improve it. They used the building for music, theater, and other events. However, in 2014, the college decided to sell the building.
In 2018, Rye Venue Management bought the building. They made more improvements. They removed all the theater seats. They also added a permanent cocktail bar. This bar's top shows hundreds of small gold plaques. These plaques have the names of people who donated to the original theater. The newly updated building was named "The Lit event space."
Recent Events and New Beginnings
In March 2020, many businesses had to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Lit event space had to cancel all its events. It was allowed to reopen later that year. However, the venue struggled to recover. Rye Venue Management closed its doors in 2024.
The building was empty until July 2025. Then, a local event company called "The Penny Loafer LLC" took over. They plan to make the building a community gathering place again. They opened "The Parlor Cafe" in the front. The upstairs now has a library and a bridal suite. A groom's den was added downstairs. The main theater space is used for many events. These include weddings, concerts, and vintage movie nights. It also hosts dinner theater, comedy nights, and open mic events. Dance classes, yoga, and recitals are also held there. Local art groups can use the space for rehearsals and learning. This information comes from Penny Hock, the owner of The Penny Loafer LLC.
Famous Visitors
Over the years, several important people gave speeches at the club. These included former U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.
Building Features
The Ladies' Literary Club building is made of brick and has two stories. A tall, single-story wing is attached to the back. This wing holds an auditorium. The building has blue stone around its doors and windows. It also has a slate roof.
The building's design shows the strong Richardsonian Romanesque style. It has beautiful French plane and stained glass windows. One of these is a special Tiffany glass window. This window is valued at $225,000.
Notable People Connected to the Club
- Loraine Immen, served as president of the Ladies' Literary Club in 1890.
