The birth of our B&B
Tim and Christie Graupmann have owned the Gilbert Mansion for the past 25 years. Ever since her childhood days growing up in the neighborhood, it was always Christie's dream to live in the huge white house on the hill at 719 NW First Avenue. Her dream came true when her husband purchased it for her in 2000. Years of blood, sweat and tears have gone into restoration work and finding all the period furnishings to bring the home back to its original splendor. The Graupmanns raised their six children in the Mansion, and after all of them had left the nest, the home was opened for tours in 2014. Since they both have always loved to entertain, it was a natural progression to open the Mansion as a Bed & Breakfast, so others are now able to get a taste of how the Gilbert family lived more than a century ago.
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"We consider it our honor and privilege to have been the caretakers of this beautiful place for the past 25 years."
~Tim & Christie
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History
Construction began on the Gilbert Mansion in 1904. The 6,000 square foot structure was completed in 1906, at a cost of $9,000. At a time when the average selling price of a home in Grand Rapids was $400 to $700, the Gilbert Mansion was the talk of the town! Business magnate William Gilbert and his wife Florence raised their four children in the house. All were very bright and, after graduating from Grand Rapids High School, were sent out East to Ivy League Universities. After graduating from college, three of the four children came back home to live in the Mansion until their deaths, never marrying.
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Matriarch Florence Gilbert was a socialite and loved to entertain in her beautiful home, which she furnished with lovely treasures from around the world. She opened her doors to the community as often as she could. Many parties, meetings, and even high school dances were held there. According to the local historical society, the Gilbert Mansion ballroom was the social center of the community. With 6 servants taking care of every detail, the home was immaculate during Florence's life. In 1957 when Florence passed, Kathryn, the eldest daughter, who was very private and reclusive, immediately let all the help go. By the time of her death in 1981, the Mansion had fallen into serious disrepair. The house changed hands twice over the next 19 years, with each respective owner taking steps to begin the restoration. 25 years ago, The Gilbert Mansion and Christie Graupmann were united and it was a match made in Heaven. Her passion for history and background in interior design shines through in every detail of the mansion.
Kathryn Gilbert was the oldest and the last surviving Gilbert Child, passing in 1981. She was highly intelligent, graduating at the top of her class from high school and college, and could read, write and speak four different languages. Kathryn was a voracious reader and owned an enormous collection of books, many of which you will find around the Gilbert Mansion. She also had a fondness for cats, which got out of hand late in her life as the house was overrun with cats. We no longer have any live cats in the house, but you'll find cats in every room, as our tribute to Kathryn.
