House Foundation

For more than one hundred years, the members of the Ladies’ Literary Club have gathered at the Greek Revival clubhouse at 218 North Washington Street. The preservation and upkeep of this historic treasure is central to the club’s mission.

Donate to the House Foundation

The club created a 501c3 charitable foundation dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the clubhouse.

Please use the button below to donate to the House Foundation via PayPal.

History of the Clubhouse

This Greek Revival house, built in 1846, was previously known as the Grant Residence. The ownership of the house turned over several times in its first decade, but its two principal owners have been the Grant family and the Ladies’ Literary Club.

The ladies of the club purchased the house in 1914 from Edward Grant, who had fallen on hard times and needed the money. Without a doubt, the club’s longevity can be traced back to this brave, astute, and prescient decision to purchase this beautiful home as the permanent clubhouse.

In 1934, at the urging of the head of the University of Michigan architecture program, Emile Lorch, the house was selected to be part of the Advisory Committee of the American Building Survey (the precursor to the National Register of Historic Places).

Because of the age and architecture of the house, its record was deposited in the Library of Congress.

In 1971-1972, the capacity of the building was increased by 2,670 square feet, modernizing the caretaker’s apartment and making a large workroom in the basement. No part of the original building was affected by this addition.