South Brevard Historical Society

09/02/2026

🍍 South Brevard Historical Society 🍍
Founded in 1966
Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 3:00pm
Melbourne Public Library
540 E. Fee Avenue, Melbourne FL 32901
PRESENTS: ****BREVARD GHOST TOWNS****
Last year our presenter Ann Raley became fascinated with the many ghost towns in Brevard. These communities would be more aptly named Lost or Abandoned Communities. Ann will not be telling ghost stories but will explain what happened to these old settlements and why they no longer exist. Many of these towns were originally settled in the 1800s. What was it that captivated people from all over the US and Europe to leave home and venture into what was then a wilderness? Ann answers these and many more questions. In addition, she will show vintage views of towns lost so long ago. She’s hoping the topic will peak your interest and lead you to do your own detective work into the mystery and history of some of Brevard’s oldest, forgotten places.
Ann is a local historian, author and leading expert on the Kentucky Military Institute history in Eau Gallie Florida and has contributed her work on it to various publications and on PBS.
(Pictures: Lotus FL Post Office & Dock – Cadets pose at Military Park and the devastating fire which closed the school)

08/18/2026

South Brevard Historical Society will present “GHOST TOWNS OF BREVARD” on Saturday September 12th at the Melbourne Public Library at 500 E. Fee Ave. in Melbourne at 3pm.
North and Central Brevard towns will be mentioned along with incredible vintage photos of their past. South Brevard ghost towns right here in Melbourne and Eau Gallie will be the main focus.
Go back as early as the 1870s and learn about these tiny communities that were forgotten so long ago!

07/20/2026

One small step....
July 20, 1969
57 years ago 🚀

07/20/2026

W.H.H. Gleason, son of Eau Gallie’s founder W.H. Gleason and father of Lansing Gleason
1862-1949
1 & 2. WHH as a young man.
3. 1947 - He is interviewed among the crumbling ruins of the the Florida Agricultural College ; then Granada Hotel and later his home.
4. His obituary.
6. His father WH Gleason.
7. Lansing Gleason.

07/14/2026

The Eau Gallie Library from the beginning!

In 1939, the Eau Gallie Woman's Club officially sponsored a circulating library, which began with 22 books and some shelves in a member's office on Ninth Street, now Eau Gallie Boulevard. Several moves and many years later, the ladies joined forces with the city to plan a new library. In October of 1962, all the years of hard work paid off when a new midcentury modern 3,500 square foot library building, designed by architect Rhoderic F. Taylor, was dedicated. It opened with 15,000 volumes to take care of the needs of 4,000 patrons, who had been re-registered the previous December.

Let us know in the comments what your favorite memory of the library was growing up. We might share it in a future post!

07/06/2026

Interesting Brevard history!

Mary Williams was the G-Grandmother of HS Williams of Historic Lawndale in Rockledge

07/03/2026

50 years ago in 1976 America was celebrating our 200th year. Some of you may remember!
Here we here now celebrating 250 years! What an historic time to be alive!
Don’t miss the parade downtown and the fireworks❣️
🇺🇸❤️💙🇺🇸

06/21/2026

Everything has a history!

06/20/2026

Big doins’ in Melbourne and Indialantic in the early 20s when the Florida Statewide Beauty Pageant came to town. It was held at the Indialantic Casino (later BahamaBeach Club) on July 4th weekend…over 100 years ago!❤️🇺🇸💙🎉