National Register of Historic Places

Aldrich Building

Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Listed
November 12, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000536

About this property

The Aldrich Building is a historic building located at 98 Monroe Center, NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since November 12, 1982. The Aldrich Building was built in 1869 by druggists Edward Wilson and John Harvey, who operated their business from the first floor and rented out the upper floors. It was significant at the time for being the first building in Grand Rapids constructed with large plate glass windows in the storefronts. Wilson and Harvey owned the building until 1885, when it was purchased by Euphrasia Alcrich, whose family owned the buildings on either side. In 1887, a pair of physicians began practicing out of the building, and in 1910 the first dentist began practicing in the building. A dentistry practice operated in the building until at least the 1980s. In 1936, a Fannie Farmer Candies store moved into the first floor space, and remained there into the 21st century. They were replaced with a coffee shop in 2008. The building was renovated in 2013. The Aldrich Building is a three-story brick commercial Italianate building, shaped like a wedge due to its location at the corner of two streets which form an obtuse angle. The first-floor facade was likely modernized in the early 20th century. Brick pilasters run from the street level up to a cornice line at the top of the building, where they merge with a brick frieze. The upper stories contain eight-foot-tall, one-over-one windows framed with brick molding. The window heads are semi-circular on the second floor and semi-hexagonal on the third. Decorative elements on the upper floors are constructed of brick, stone, and wood.

Location

98 Monroe Center, NW
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
42.96519, -85.67004

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Aldrich Building

This page lists Aldrich Building. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Aldrich Building report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Aldrich, Godfrey, and White Block
Industrial
0 mi
Ledyard Block Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Michigan Trust Company Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Grand Rapids Savings Bank Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Peck Block
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Aldrich Building listed on the National Register?

Aldrich Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Aldrich Building?

Aldrich Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Aldrich Building?

The period of significance for Aldrich Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Aldrich Building?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Aldrich Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Kent County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Kent County.

Explore KentCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Aldrich Building will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report