The Difference a Dollar can Make

a dollarAA dedicated group of volunteers are spending a great amount of time, effort, and their own money to purchase Green Gables so they can restore it and make a living-history museum and center for community engagement. They see the By Mary Brotherton • Photos by Jennifer East

property as much more than an old house.

The real estate should not be valued for its commercial appeal, but for the history that surrounds it. The Green Gables house has been home to many generations of the same family and has withstood the ravages of 16 hurricanes and countless minor storms. An entire ecosystem lives within the property and we must all be mindful of how a commercial structure will impact the adjacent Indian River.

Saving Green Gables is saving a slice of history. This was the home of William T. and Nora Stanford Wells, early settlers who called Melbourne their home, and contributed greatly to the growth of the area since building the house in 1896.

The National Register of Historic Places Americans prefer old buildings.

Research shows that Americans prefer old buildings, calling them homey, warm, or patriotic. Historical preservation is vital, because once the Green Gables house is destroyed, it can never return. Saving this structure is a form of large-scale recycling.

Preserving historic buildings is not only crucial to retaining our nation’s heritage and history it also reduces the need for new materials and the costs of demolition. Changes can be made to meet modern building codes and requirements.

Marion Ambrose, president of the Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village board of directors, said, “I can’t explain the feeling of warmth that envelops me when I walk through the door. All I can say is, it feels like coming home.”

Dozens of volunteers have worked feverishly for several years to raise enough money to purchase the property from William and Nora Wells’ descendants, and just as they raised half of the million dollar purchase price, Covid struck, but that did not slow down their efforts. They have until July 2022, to raise the rest of the money required to preserve the property from the wrecking ball. If each of the 600,000+ residents of Brevard County donates just $1 by Mother’s Day, the Green Gables’ board of directors can purchase the property and begin restoration.

The National Register of Historic Places sees the value in the Green Gables house.

The National Historic Preservation Act, enacted by Congress in 1966, requires the existence and continuance of historic buildings for the public benefit. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of our country’s historic buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. It was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

The standards for the treatment of historic properties requires society to preserve these sites and their surrounding properties, which means we must repair, not demolish.

Still not convinced this old house is worth saving? Consider this 126-year-old building next to a modern structure. Homes built prior to World War II were built with high-quality materials. Some no longer exist. Wood from old-growth forests and rare hardwoods can never be replaced. The fixtures and furniture of that era are beyond comparison.

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I do!

Watch the documentary about this enchantress!

By donating to save Green Gables, more couples can share their special life events for reasonable prices, on the waterfront, in a beautiful, natural, historic setting that’s near Downtown Melbourne. Visit greengables.org to book your events before July 1!

Story  Selected for Sponsorship

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey was the auctioneer at a highly successful Green Gables fundraiser when volunteers transformed the 1-1/4 acre lawn into Bourbon Street for an enchanting Mardi Gras gala.