Green Gables (Melbourne, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Green Gables
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![]() Green Gables in 2014
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Location | 1501 South Harbor City Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida |
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Architectural style | Queen Anne |
NRHP reference No. | 16000269 |
Added to NRHP | May 18, 2016 |
Green Gables, also known as the Wells House, is a very old and special house in Melbourne, Florida. It sits right by the beautiful Indian River.
A businessman named William T. Wells and his wife Nora Stanford Wells built this house in 1886. They used it as their winter home. Green Gables is a great example of Queen Anne style architecture. This means it has a unique and fancy design, often with towers and decorative details. It's even thought to be the first house in the area with indoor plumbing and a bathroom inside!
In 2016, Green Gables was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to the history of the U.S..
Saving a Historic Home
Green Gables was almost torn down in 2015. But a group of local historians and volunteers stepped in to help. They are working with the Wells family, who are the fourth generation to own the house. Everyone wants to save this important piece of history. As of 2020, the community needed to raise $500,000 to help protect the house.
About William T. Wells
William Twining Wells was from New Jersey and New York. He owned a company called the Wells Rustless Iron Company. Besides building Green Gables, he also managed a pineapple farm nearby. Mr. Wells was a generous person. He even donated land for a local park, which is now known as Wells Park.