Preliminary Designation Report of Green Gables by City of Melbourne and Littlejohn Engineering
Melbourne Survey of Historic Resouces 2019
Green Gables National Register Nomination
Green Gables Master Site File 2020
Green Gables Master Site File 1990
Historic Preservation Resources
Florida Division of Historic Resources Information on Master Site File Preparation
City of Melbourne Information on Historic Designation
City of Melbourne Interactive Map of Historic Resources
Brevard Real Estate Related Documents
Green Gables is in Township 28 South Range 37 East Section 3
Abstract of Title prepared in December 1925, covering land in the E1/2 of Lot 28, Section 11, T29S R37E. This land is on the south
side of Malabar Rd east of the Malabar Post Office.
Abstract of Title prepared for W. T. Wells in May 1927, covering land in Lots 3,4 9,10, Block E, Metcalf's Addition, Plat Book 1, Page 49
Part of Lot 4, Section 34, T27S R37E. This land is just to the north of Green Gables on the other side of Hibiscus Ave.
Abstract of Title prepared for Nora Wells in May 1930 covering land in Section 3, T28S R37E. Interesting that it was for Nora Wells,
not William T. Wells.
Information useful for Docents
Brief Family History and Room by Room Notes prepared by John Daly. This was prepared in 2016.
Fact Sheet extracted from Historic Structure Report prepared by John Daly This was prepared in 2022
Collection of images showing the architectural development of Green Gables
Wells Family Related Documents
Collection of newspaper articles related to Green Gables and the Wells Family. The original source is a notebook of extracts
collected by Weona Cleveland during the years when she wrote history articles for the local newspapers. There are some
additional items added by John Daly
Clipping from The Miami Herald for Mar 10 1920 discussing happenings in Melbourne, including the fate of the Chautauqua Auditorium. Researched by Ann Flotte
Source is a small booklet in which Mrs. Wells has listed the contents of various rooms in Green Gables. It has been scanned opened with two pages side-by-side
Steam launch pilots certificate from New York. The source is a well worn original document in the collection of a family member.
The back contains endorsements and two scans are provided of the back in an attempt to make them more legible. The name is spelled Welles rather than
Wells, but Welles is an alternate spelling in the family, the documents was found among family papers, and Mr. Wells is known to have operated
a steam launch in New York so it is reasonable to believe it is his.
Clippings from New York mentioning the steam launch Gladys "engineered by Mr. Wells and piloted by Mrs. Wells herself." The article also mentions
that Mrs. Wells is the niece of "the late Senator Leland Stanford" from whom she inherited $100,000. Sources are in the Stanford archives. They were
contributed by Gladys Wells Griffith and scanned by Carl and Carol Andren.
Large File-Give it time to download History of the Welles Family in England and Normandy by Alfred Welles. 1876. Genealogical history of the family. This document is scanned from a
family copy in the collection of Mr. David Fletcher. Flyleaf is stamped "Jas. S. Wells, Mackensack, New Jersey" plus a penned notation
"Given me by Aunt Lizzie, Charlotte Elizabeth Wells, August 1927, Stanford Wells." This is Item 20201223001
Click to view copy at Google Books
Brief paragraph on High School built by W. T. Wells excerpted from an article prepared by Betty Preece, September 1970 Researched by Ann Flotte
Early photo of first high school. From the collection of David Fletcher. Scanned 2024-03-13
Photo of Nora Wells in her later years. Researched by Doug Smith.
Photo of Nora Wells at the 60th reunion of her class at Elmira College in 1933. Researched by Doug Smith.
Article about Nora Wells at the 60th reunion of her class at Elmira College in 1933. Research by Doug Smith.
Photo of Nora Wells in the 1890's. Research by Doug Smith.
Photo titled "Nora and Charles, Mimi and brothers, Stan and Frank" Researched by Doug Smith. There are eight people in this photo. Charles may be the child standing by Nora. Mimi may be a nickname for Gladys Wells, so that would mean the two standing men are Stanford and Prescott Wells. Glady's two sons were named Stan (born 1915) and Frank (born 1921) so they would be the two boys on either side of the photo. The white haired gentleman by Nora is William T. Wells.
Photo showing from right to left, William T. Wells, Nora Wells, and Friend. Research by Ann Flotte.
A large collection of articles relating to the Wells Family collected by Doug Smith. This will open an index of the articles, which you
can click on and read. A few of the articles may not open correctly. We are working to correct those problems (most open correctly as of Sept 9, 2025)
Family Obituaries
William T. Wells from the Melbourne Times July 11, 1930
Nora Stanford Wells from the Star Gazette of Elmira NY 3 October 1933. Research by Doug Smith
Stanford Wells from the Orlando Sentinel.11 September 1971. Research by Doug Smith
Pearl Wells (Mrs. Standford Wells) Florida Today 31 May 1971 Research by Doug Smith
Hugh Prescott Wells from The Record NJU 29 March 1963 Research by Doug Smith
Gladys Lyman McClung from Find a Grave Memorial 23 May 1980 Research by Doug Smith
Lois Lyman Fletcher from Tallahassee Democrat 6 April 2000. Research by Doug Smith
Kathering Lyman Craft from Florida Today 8 December 1987. Research by Doug Smith
Jane Stanford
Jane Stanford was the widow of Leland Stanford. She is important to the story of Green Gables because we believe that Nora Stanford Wells inherited $100,000 from
the estate of Leland Stanford. Jane Stanford would have been in charge of the Stanford estate. The estate was not settled until 1898. There are many questions
still to be researched. When did Nora actually receive the money? How much did she actually receive? Did the Wells family build a simple version of Green Gables
expecting to get an influx of money when the Leland Stanford estate was settled?
Information from Stanford University about Jane Stanford
Wells Family Home on Crown Island, Lake George, New York
You Tube video on Crown Island. Around 2:00 to 2:26 the drone flies around a large house which is the former Wells Residence shown in some of
our historic photos.
Information on Saratoga, Lake George and Lake Champlain. The Wells family is mentioned on page 64. Their cottage is described as their "summer home." This is
a large file and may take a while to download.
A 1905 advertisement offering Crown Island, home of William and Nora Wells, for sale. This description mentions only that it is owned by "a wealthy Man."
Notice also that the sale includes his 60' launch Crusader and a "...power house, containing electric plant..." We may not have the documentation, but it's easy
to believe that if his northern home had electricity Mr. Wells would have wanted the same innovation in his southern home.
An 1891 advertisement from Life magazine offering Crown Island for sale. This is just a few years before they came to Florida. It would be interesting to know why they
were selling this house complete with all furnishings.
Here is some material from research by Ann Flotte
Photo showing from right to left, William T. Wells, Nora Wells, and Friend
Cover of book by William Preston Gates on Crown Island, which was owned by the Wells Family from 1893 to 1930
The Wells House on Crown Island
Notes on the connection between the Wells Family and Crown Island
Wells Rustless Iron Related Documents
Mr. Wells was a metallurgical engineer who operated a successful business treating cast iron with an oxide which protected the iron from rust.
In the period from the 1880's through to the 1920's cast iron was an important material used for everything from irrigation pipe to commercial
building facades, and of course frying pans.
Wells Rustless Iron Catalog from 1886. These catalogs give a good idea of the wide range of iron goods protected by the Wells process.
Wells Rustless Iron Catalog from 1887 These catalogs give a good idea of the wide range of iron goods protected by the Wells process.
Wells Rustless Iron Catalog from 1888 These catalogs give a good idea of the wide range of iron goods protected by the Wells process.
Wells Rustless Iron Catalog from 1889 These catalogs give a good idea of the wide range of iron goods protected by the Wells process.
Bower and Barff Catalog from 1885. This company claimed that the Wells process infringed on their patents. There was extensive litigation on this point. By the late 1890's we find W. T. Wells as an officer and consultant for Bowers and Barff. More will be added later.
Discussion of the history of the Bower-Barff process which was the basis for W. T. Wells process. This description is
part of the decision in a British patent case in which the Bower-Barff company is attempting to extend their British patent. There
is also a great deal of discussion of the legal issues involved, which may be of less interest. From the Reports of Patent Design and Trade
Mark Cases Vol. XII., No. 20 August 21, 1895.pp 383-386
Clipping from Rural New Yorker November 19, 1892. Mr. Wells explains for a general audience how he chanced upon the improvements in producing rustless iron which he patented and which formed
the basis for the Wells Rustless Iron Company . What is more interesting is that in this 1892 article
Mr. Wells states "Having obtained patents for it [his process] in this country, Canada and Europe, the Bower-Barff Rustless Iron Company purchased them [his patents]
for a very large sum, thereby combining all the best processes for making rustless iron under one control." Presumably it is this "very large sum"
that was part of financing Green Gables and the family's activities in Melbourne.
Clipping from New York Times for June 11, 1895 stating "The plant of the Wells Rustless Iron Company, at Little Ferry, burned; loss, $13,000; no insurance."
William Wells and the Railroad
Today some men retire and build a model railroad. Wells decided to build a real one. He saw the need for a railroad to connect the east coast to mineral and agricultural producing
areas in the interior of the state. He dreamed big.
Here is an article describing the effort to build the Central Florida and Indian River Railroad.
Miscellaneous Documents
These are items found among Wells family papers that don't seem to fit anywhere else
This is a handwritten letter dated January 12, 1886, on stationery of the Cook County Illinois Clerk to A. F. Walcott, Esq. discussing
the "gas fight" in St. Louis. The envelope was also found among the family papers. The writer is Henry McGurrau. One of the companies mentioned
is LaClede Gas and the Wells family did own bonds from that company. An early President of LaClede Gas was Erastus Wells. I haven't traced the
genealogy, but Erastus Wells was born in Jefferson County, New York, and is very likely related to William T. Wells.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laclede_Gas_Company] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erastus_Wells]
This envelope is addressed to A. F. Wallcott and postmarked from Chicago, so presumably it is associated with the letter..
Chautauqua in Melbourne
The Chautauqua program still functions (see https://chq.org/), although WikiPedia talks of it in the past tense. Founded in 1874 the Chautauqua
was an enormously popular adult education program during the 1880' through the 1920's. The Mother Chautauqua remains near Lake Chautauqua in New York
State. "Daughter" Chautauquas functioned throughout much of the country, including Melbourne. The name of W. T. Wells appears prominently in
connection with the local Chautauqua. Daughter Gladys is mentioned in the 1907 program. Meeting were held at the Education Building and later at
an auditorium built by Mr. Wells.
An undated publication about the Chautauqua of the Tropics. W. T. Wells is the vice-president at this time. It reads more like a
promotion piece for the Indian River that anything else. Notice that several of the photos appear among the photos from the Wells family that we have.
Program for the Florida East Coast Chautauqua at Melbourne Mar 4-18, 1907. Mr. Wells is the President at this time. Gladys Wells is
listed as being in charge of the youth programs. There are brief biographies of many local dignataries. Notice how many of them are from
somewhere else. Notice the ad for the Indian River Inn "Northern Cooking a Speciality"
Images
Images related to Green Gables
Sketch of Green Gables as it appeared about 1910. Done by Julie C. Fetzer November 2021
Music for Green Gables
Here are a pair of music books with songs that would have been popular in the day. Both are available on Google Books