St. Cecilia Music Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Cecilia Society Building
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| Location | 24-30 Ransom Ave., NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Henry Ives Cobb |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000401 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1971 |
The St. Cecilia Music Center is a special building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was built in 1894 and was first called the St. Cecilia Society Building. This historic place is used for musical performances and events.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's recognized as an important historic site. Even today, it's still a busy music spot, run by the same group that built it over 125 years ago! You can find it at 24 Ransom Avenue NE.
Contents
The Story of St. Cecilia Music Center
How It Started
The St. Cecilia Society began in 1883. It was a club for women who loved music. Their goal was to improve their own musical skills. They also wanted to help music grow in their community. The group was named after Saint Cecilia, who is known as the patron saint of musicians.
When the club started, there were only nine women. But in just a few months, nearly 100 women joined! By 1894, the Society decided they needed their own place to perform. They hired a famous architect named Henry Ives Cobb from Chicago. He designed their beautiful new building.
The building was officially opened on June 19, 1894. It was a big day for the Society and for music in Grand Rapids.
Growing and Changing
Over the years, the St. Cecilia Music Center has been updated. In 1925, it had a major renovation. This work helped to make the seating area bigger. The building was also renovated again in 2016 to keep it in great shape.
The name of the organization has changed a few times too. In 1970, the St. Cecilia Society became the St. Cecilia Music Society. Then, in 2007, it changed again to the St. Cecilia Music Center.
Many famous musicians have performed here. These include singers like Ernestine Schumann-Heink. Pianists like Edward MacDowell, Olga Samaroff, and Ossip Gabrilowitsch also played on its stage. The Grand Rapids Symphony orchestra even started with help from the St. Cecilia Society. The Society supported the symphony for many years.
What the Building Looks Like
The St. Cecilia Society Building is a two-story building. It is made of brick and has a full basement. The style of the building is called Renaissance Revival. This means it looks like buildings from the Renaissance period in Europe.
The roof is flat and covered with tar and gravel. The front of the building is very detailed. The second floor is made of brick. The first floor uses stone. You can see special decorations made of terra cotta around the windows and doors. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay.
The windows have leaded glass, which means small pieces of glass are held together by lead strips. The main entrance has elegant wrought iron lights on each side. A decorative terra cotta frieze and cornice run along the top of the building.
Inside, the building has several important rooms. There is a foyer where people enter. There's also a ballroom, an office, and a small kitchen. The main part is a large auditorium. It is 80 feet wide and 100 feet long. There are also dressing rooms for performers.
