Women’s City Club historian, Carol Dodge, has published a book. The Mayor, the Maestro, and the Mansion: Martin Sweet, Ottakar Malek, and the Sweet House. Carol’s book is the result of over 30 years of research into the history.

The Sweet House was built by Martin Sweet in the mid 1860s as the family home for his wife Desdemona and their three children, Mattie, Cassius and Frank. Martin Sweet was an influential Grand Rapids business man with many accomplishments who was mayor of Grand Rapids for one term in 1860. He passed away in 1905 and the house was used by Ottakar Malek for a music conservatory from 1914 to 1919.

In 1927 the Women’s City Club purchased the Sweet House to use as their clubhouse. The Club resided there until 2018.

Carol has dedicated many, many hours to make this book a reality. She is an amazing source of knowledge and history of all things Sweet House and Women’s City Club. We are proud to have her as Club Historian and long-time Women’s City Club member!