Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids

The Ladies' Literary Club, also known as the Wednesday Literary Club, is a historic social club building located on Sheldon Street SE in Grand Rapids. Built in 1887, this architectural landmark was designed by local architect William G. Robinson in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring a two-story brick structure with bluestone trim, French plane windows, and an impressive Tiffany glass window appraised at $225,000. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The origins of the club trace back to 1869, when a small group of Grand Rapids women formed a history class that soon evolved into the Ladies' Literary Association in 1870. This group played a key role in establishing a public library in the city. By 1882, they re-incorporated as the Ladies' Literary Club, dedicated to literary and scientific pursuits. As the club expanded, they commissioned the construction of their building, which was completed by December 1887, with major renovations in 1931.

Over the decades, the Ladies' Literary Club became a cultural hub, hosting notable speakers such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. However, declining membership led to the club's dissolution in 2005, and ownership was transferred to Calvin College in 2006. The college invested $1 million in renovations and used the venue for music, theater, and entertainment events before deciding to sell it in 2014.

In 2018, a group of investors acquired the historic building with the vision of transforming it into The Lit, a modern social event space. As of 2019, the building has been undergoing renovations, ensuring that this storied landmark continues to serve the Grand Rapids community in a new capacity while preserving its rich literary and cultural legacy.