House Foundation

For more than one hundred years, the members of the Ladies’ Literary Club have gathered at our Greek Revival clubhouse at 218 North Washington Street. An important mission of the club has been the upkeep of this historic treasure, built in 1846.

Donate to the House Foundation

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

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

History of the Clubhouse

The historic 1840s Greek Revival clubhouse of the Ladies’ Literary Club was previously known as the Grant Residence. 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 this brave, astute, and prescient decision to purchase our wonderful 1840s Greek Revival 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 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.