League of Catholic Women Building

The League of Catholic Women Building, located at 100 Parsons Street in Detroit, Michigan, was completed in 1928. The building is significant as it was, in 1928, the only building of its size and type erected by a group of organized women, the League of Catholic Women. The building, designed by the prominent Detroit architectural and engineering firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, is also a significant example of the Neo-Georgian style. The League of Catholic Women's building contributes to the Multiple Resource Nomination of the Cass Farm Survey Area within the context of Humanitarian/Social Concerns. The League of Catholic Women, a charitable organization affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, was organized in 1906 as the Weinman Club. The group was renamed the Catholic Settlement Association in 1911 and reorganized in 1915 to became the League of Catholic Women. The organization was incorporated on June 11, 1915. Its founder, Annie Hammond, was the daughter of Mrs. George H. Hammond, one of the city's first professional social workers. Annie Hammond (Mrs. Charles W. Casgrain) became the first president of the League and served until her death in 1917. The League brought together Catholic women from all over the city into a central group for the purpose of carrying forth, in an intelligent and systematic way, a city-wide effort of mercy and charity for single young women seeking employment in the city (League of Catholic Women Annual Report, March, 1928). In 1928, the year in which the Activities Building was constructed, the membership of the League totaled 12,000.

The League of Catholic Women Building is an eight story building constructed of brick and stone at 100 Parsons, in Detroit, Michigan. The overall width and depth dimensions of the building are similar, however the recessed central entrance courtyard creates a generally U-shaped building. The building has a Neo-Georgian exterior. The interior of the building was designed to incorporate a number of varied uses for the convenience of the building's residents. This eight story, U-shaped brick building has two identical blocks fronting on the public sidewalk connected by a setback central section, creating a central courtyard in front. In style, the building is marked by slightly setback corners articulated in brick as quoins. The front facade of each of the identical blocks has a classically derived entrance centered on its rusticated brick first story. The first story of the recessed central section has French doors. Above the belt course between the first and second stories are three arched recesses with roundels above double hung windows. The next five stories are fenestrated with regular rows of double-hung sash windows, above which is a string course serving as a continuous sill to the eighth floor with similar window arrangements with flat arches and projecting keystones. The cornice is a plain band of stone, with a brick paneled parapet above.