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Florida Trust Shares 11 to Save Grant Fund Award to Protect and Share Unique Florida History
Tallahassee, Fla. December 13, 2024 – In its third 11 to Save Grant Fund cycle, the Florida Trust awarded $5,000 to Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village, Inc. in Melbourne and $1,500 to Central Academy in Palatka, marking a significant step in preserving Florida’s historical landmarks.
Built in 1886 for Nora and William Wells of Wells Rustless Iron Company, the Queen Anne style home sits along the scenic Indian River. The Wells were important members of the Melbourne community. William was a prominent engineer, and Nora opened the area’s first high school and library. The home is a vernacular Queen Anne, meaning it was built by local tradesman with local materials and without an architectural plan. Additionally, it is believed to be one of the first homes in Melbourne to have electricity and indoor plumbing.
With the grant money, Green Gables intends to conduct site research and hire an engineering consultant to prepare the grounds for commercial zoning. Annita Full, treasurer of Green Gables states “This will certainly help us meet the next task of our restoration project. We appreciate all the Florida Trust does to promote the importance of historic preservation. Advocating for preservation-friendly policies and your support for local preservation projects like Green Gables is enabling Florida to preserve its heritage for future generations.
Green Gables Awarded $10,000 Grant
Green Gables is the grateful recipient of a $10,000 operating Support Grant provided by the generosity of the Barbara Wells Family Foundation and Community Foundation for Brevard. This award will cover the cost of water and sewer impact fees for Green Gables and connection for water service and plumbing for our outside operation. City water access will be such a welcome commodity for hygiene for volunteers and visitors, in cleaning the building, for future construction crews, and for watering our gardens.
“Foundations such as the Community Foundation for Brevard and philanthropy such as the Barbara Wells Family Foundation are the catalysts that keep historic preservation in our communities and so many smaller nonprofits operational” said Green Gables Board Member, Sue Fallon.
G G Awarded $482,500 Matching Grant
On June 7, 2022 the Florida Division of Historical Resources awarded Green Gables a $482,500 acquisition matching grant toward the purchase of the historic home and site of Green Gables. Volunteers have spent the past dozen years fundraising and trying to strike a deal to buy the six-bedroom, 1896-vintage American Four Square/Queen Anne house — which features a distinctive octagonal porch — to refurbish as a public asset. Marion Ambrose, president of the preservation-minded nonprofit Green Gables, described her reaction as “stunned.” But I'm very excited," Ambrose said. “Because we have so many plans now that we own it. "Melbourne needs Green Gables and its grounds because virtually every other significant element of the early built environment has been obliterated in the development associated with the Space Age," the application said.