Willard Building (Grand Rapids, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Willard Building
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| Location | 150 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Built by | Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. |
| Architect | Benjamin W. Hertel |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001172 |
| Added to NRHP | January 14, 2013 |
The Willard Building is a cool old building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's also called the Peacock Building because it has special bird decorations made of terra cotta (a type of baked clay) at the very top. You can find it at 150 East Fulton Street. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, which means it's an important historical spot!
Contents
The Building's Story
Early Days and a Doctor's Office
The story of the Willard Building starts with Dr. Willard M. Burleson. He was a doctor who began his medical practice in Grand Rapids way back in 1899. His practice grew, and his brother even joined him. Dr. Burleson became known for treating certain medical conditions without needing surgery.
In 1911, Dr. Burleson bought an apartment building called the Wellington Flats. This building was located exactly where the Willard Building stands today. He changed its name to the Burleson Sanitarium and moved his medical office there.
From Hotel to Full Clinic
At first, any rooms that weren't being used by the medical practice were rented out like hotel rooms. But by 1920, Dr. Burleson's practice had grown a lot! There were nine doctors working there, and they needed all the rooms for their patients.
The medical practice eventually moved out of the building in 1927. Dr. Burleson passed away the next year. Some of his partners later started a new hospital called Ferguson Droste Ferguson Hospital. Dr. Burleson's brother continued to run the Burleson Sanitarium for a while.
A New Building for New Businesses
In 1929, the old Wellington Flats building was taken down. Dr. Burleson's family hired a company called Owen-Ames-Kimball to build a brand new commercial building. Their architect, Benjamin W. Hertel, designed the new building.
The construction was finished, and the new Willard Building opened for business in 1930. Some of the first shops to open there included a Kroger grocery store and bakery, a shop selling old and interesting items (an antique shop), and a flower shop. Many different businesses have used the building over the years, from the time of the Great Depression all the way up to today!
What the Building Looks Like
The Willard Building is a single-story commercial building. It's shaped like the letter "L" and sits on a street corner, so it has two main sides that face the streets. The building is made of tan bricks and has a cool mix of old-fashioned styles.
Cool Architectural Styles
The Willard Building combines two interesting design styles: Classical Revival and Art Deco.
- Classical Revival style uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings, like columns and fancy decorations.
- Art Deco style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses geometric shapes, bold lines, and often has a sleek, modern look.
Special Decorations
Along both sides of the building, you'll see many storefronts (places where shops are). These are separated by special columns called piers. These piers are made of terra cotta (that baked clay material) and are decorated with fancy designs like urns (vase-like shapes), crests (like family symbols), and acanthus leaf patterns (a type of plant design).
At the very top of the building, there's a wavy border called an undulating parapet with more terra cotta trim. And the most unique part? At the top of each pier, there's a colorful terra cotta peacock! These beautiful bird decorations are what give the building its other name, the Peacock Building.
