Rood Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rood Building
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Rood Building in 2014
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| Location | 139 Pearl Street, NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | William G. Robinson |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000142 |
| Added to NRHP | March 4, 1988 |
The Rood Building is a cool old commercial building located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site! The building was built way back in 1873 for a person named Charles Conant Rood, and that's where it got its name.
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A Look Back: The Rood Building's Story
The Rood Building was constructed in 1873. It was built for Charles Conant Rood, who was a lawyer and also invested in properties. Before this building, another three-story building stood in the same spot. Sadly, that building, also owned by Rood, burned down in October 1872.
After the fire, Mr. Rood hired a talented architect from Grand Rapids named William G. Robinson to design the new building. Over the many years since it was built, the Rood Building has been used for different things. It has had offices, homes, and even a restaurant inside!
Modern Updates and Recognition
In the 1980s, the Rood Building got some important updates. Workers added a new wooden cornice (that's a fancy decorative ledge at the top of a building). They also built an addition that filled in a part of the building's original "L" shape. This new part included an elevator and a stairwell.
Because of its history and unique style, the Rood Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 1988. This helps protect it for future generations to enjoy.
Building Style: High Victorian Gothic
The Rood Building is a four-story building made with a timber frame and covered in brick. It's a really special building because it's the only commercial building left in Grand Rapids that shows off the High Victorian Gothic style. This style was popular a long time ago, and there are only a few buildings like it left in the city.
Unique Shape and Details
Originally, the Rood Building had an "L" shape. The short part of the "L" faced Pearl Street, and the longer part had shops along what used to be a walking path. The addition built in the 1980s filled in the corner of this "L" shape.
The side of the building that faces Pearl Street has three main sections, called "bays." The middle section is wider with three windows, and the two sections on either side have one window each. At the very top of this side, there's a large cornice with the year "1873" carved into it. The first cornice was made of iron, but it wore out over time. So, a new one made of painted wood was put in its place.
