1.Jackson House
In 1877 Greenberry Jackson, a blacksmith, built the first house in the newly platted town of Melrose. Jackson's son married the grandaughter of Alex Goodson, founder of Melrose. Members of the Jackson family have occupied it continuously.
2.F.W. Tolles House
This Victorian-style house, called "Montclare Cottage," was built in 1893 for Fremont and Clara Tolles. Since about 1888, they had been coming to winter in Melrose from Naugatuck, Connecticut. Tolles was a Connecticut State Bank. The former Tolles residence has been converted to a bank.
3.Historic Melrose Museum
The small building located to the east of the bank served originally as a packing house for the Tolles family. Inquire at the bank about museum hours.
4.Barnett House
This house was built about 1885 by J.M. Barnett, who served as postmaster from 1875 to 1889. Originally built on Bellamy Avenue, it was moved to the present location facing Trout Street. Note the generous porches and pleasing symmetry.
5.Tuttle House
The property on which this house is built was purchased by Franklin B. Tuttle, a Naugatuck physician, in January of 1894. It is a good example of the type of vacation cottage favored by winter residents of Melrose.
6.Petite Chez
Built in the early 1900's for John Hilton, the house is also known as the "Brinson Cottage" because it was later occupied by Hilton's daugther, Emma Brinson.
7.H.B. Tolles House
Harrison and Alice Tuttle Tolles of Ansonia, Connecticut built the house in 1894 and called it "Oakhurst." Harrison was the older brother of F.W. Tolles, and Alice is believed to have been the sister of Franklin B. Tuttle. Note the fine saw-cut balustrade on the two-tiered porch.
8.Mizell-Craig House
This house was built by John T. Mizell on land he bought on the southern part of the new town in March 1880. Storekeeper Alexander W. Craig and his wife, the Daughter of Melrose pioneer Dr. Frank McRae, bought the house in 1910.
9.I. Mizell House
Built by Issac Mizell in the 1890's, the house was used as a boarding house in the 1920's and 1930's.
10.Henry C. Baldwin House
This house was built about 1885 by the brother of Melrose settler C.W. Baldwin. Two merchant brothers from Naugatuck, W.H. and Edgar Dunbar, bought the house from Henry's wife, Millicent, in 1905.
11.John Cason House
This is a good example of a Florida frame house. For many years it was surrounded by citrus trees and guave bushes.
12.W.M. Rhoads-Nobles House
Alterations have changes the appearance of this winter cottage built originally for landscape photographer William Rhoads. Russell Nobles occupied the house for many years in the mid-1900's.
13.Birt House
This example of Vernacular Architecture was built ca. 1917 by Thomas A. Birt, who was a boat builder. His workshop is behind the house. Note the large cedar trees.
14.A.L. McRae House
6014 Lexington
In this small frame house built ca.1890, lived Angus and Helen Weston McRae with six children. In 1905 Mrs. Ellen Whitney purchased the house with its large magnolia tree.
15.Sandiford-Grimes House
In 1886 J.E. Sandiford built this large house with a view of the lake for the purpose of taking in borders. In 1887 the house sold for $480. H.S. Grimes, Captain of the Alert, acquired the house in 1896. It originally had a two-story front porch.
16.Rogers House
(inaccessible)
The house can only be viewed from the water. It was built ca. 1885 by S.A. Rogers. The grove he planted was bearing fruit by the time a large barn was added in 1891.
17.Bay View
(inaccessible)
In May of 1878, the building of McKendrie Lambdin's "...handsome and commo-dious boarding house..." was almost finished. A hack transported guests arriving at the Waldo train station. Bay View became a private residence in 1893. It can only be viewed from the water.
18.St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Constructed by the reverend A.H.Waters in 1895, the building was converted to a residence for John McLeod in 1925. The outlines of former gothic arches are still visible.
19.Willets House
In the mid-1880's Major Charles E. Willets of New York built part of his "marine villa" on pillings out over the water. The structure was moved back to solid ground by a later owner.
20.Hamlyn House
An englishman from Devon, H. Walter Hamlyn, bought the bayfront lot next to his inlaws in 1894. This led to the opening of Devonia Street.
21.Home Acre
In 1887 Natanial Orr, an engraver from New Jersey, and his wife, Elizabeth Holmes Orr, bought a small board and batten house and converted it to a pleasant winter cottage. The letters of Elizabeth, a poet and author, provide a lively description of life in Melrose between 1886 and 1909. The Orr's daughter married Walter Hamlyn.
22.Huffman House
Newton Priest began construction of the house known as the "Abbie" for Miss A.L. Hill in 1890. In an 1895-96 brochure, "the Abbey" was described by owner C.P. Huffman as a boarding house on the bay. At times it was known as the Melrose Hotel. The two story structure once had a decorated veranda and corner tower.
23.Caldwell House
Known as "Ruthven Lodge," this accurately restored Queen-Anne style home has one of the most complex and pleasing rooflines in the area. It was built in 1890 by Natanial Priest for Charles E. and Melissa Caldwell of Springfield, Massacchusetts.
24.W.H. Rhoads House
Willam Rhoads sold his farm and bought a town lot in 1884. The cottage built by Rhoads was purchased in 1899 by Hans Felix Noszky, third mayor of Melrose, and known also as Baron von Noszky from Saxony. There has been extensive remodelling.
25.H.A. Barnett House
The town's first brick structure was built in the mid-1920's for the retirement of Hugh, son of J.M. Barnett.
26.Whitehead House
500 Centre
The prominent front gable and broad wrap-around porch are striking features of this restored house. It was constructed in the 1920's, the second cottage built in Melrose for New York attorney Emory J. Whitehead. It was also the Ross residence for fifty years.
27.Remmell House
In the year after the devestating 1894 freeze, a "Keystone Cottage" was built for J.A. Remmell of Pennsylvania. In 1920 the house was converted to the hotel Santa Fe by L.M. Pearsall. Note the shingle patterns and gables on this waterfront house.
28.A.A. McRae House
6010 Centre
In the 1880's Alex McRae owned a grocery store that was next to the Vogelbach drugstore.
29.Vogelbach Drugstore
Now used for the Homemakers Club, this building was constructed in about 1886 by Dr. Herman Volgelbacch after the original drugstore nexted to his office burned down. In 1907 it was purchased by Dr. Frank McRae, whose daughter Claudia continued to operate the business until her death in 1944. For sixty years it was the only drugstore in Melrose.
30.Riley House
Dr. Valentine Riley, a physician from Georgia, paid $40 for the lot and in the spring of 1879 had S.N. Gladwin build this attractive house. Riley boarded at Bay View until it was ready.
31.F.M. Yearwood House
In February of 1906 Yearwood, president of the Melrose Manufacturing Co., purchased a corner lot. He planted native cabbage palm trees before beginning construction of a house. During the 40's the house was occupied in the winter by the Potter family.
32.Nobles Meat Market
This is one of four surviving commercial buildings built in Melrose before 1925. Father and son sold meat to local housewives. The board and batton building with additions has been converted to a private residence.
33.Hilton House
The original building on this site was erected before 1886 to house the general store of Fannie Fletcher's father. Fannie had married John Hilton, Jr. in 1883 and it is believed they enlarged the house in the 1890's.
34.Painter-Coward House
A cottage built on this lot in 1885 was enlarged the next year for Albert H. Painter, a Pennsylvanian who served as steam-ship agent for the Clyde Line and reporter for the Gainesville Sun. In 1903 Simon Coward's family moved in. Decendents of Coward still own it.
35.Lewis-Rose House
The house may have been built by Anna W. Lewis, who bought the lot in 1894, or by Sarah G. Rose, who became owner in 1896. "Aunt Mollie," a teacher, and "Uncle Bud" Robinson owned it in the 1940's. It has an unusual roof.
36.Wurts House
The Spanish-style bungalow was built as a winter home in the 1920's for John Wurts, who had practiced law in Jacksonville in the 1880's. It became an Episcopal rectory after the death of Wurts' widow.
37.Darlington House
This stately Victorian house was built in 1885 by William Lee as a winter home for F.J. Darlington. Between elaborate twin chimneys, ornamental iron points skyward. Descentdants of Oscar and Susan Baldwin Whitcomb own the house now.
38.Ittner House
William Lee Built a cottage in 1894 for Lillian and Henry Ittner next door to Lillian's parents, the Darlingtons. Distinguishing features are the porch detail and second-floor balcony.
39.Sexton House
The unusual shape of the vacation home built in 1893 by William Lee for Captain Dowling Sexton is explained by the fact that Sexton, who came from Chatham, Connecticut, was a ship's captain. The top story looks like the bridge of a ship.
40.Hamlyn-Hunt House
This house was purchased in 1914 by L.S. Hunt from Walter Hamlyn and may have been moved from the bayfront lot purchased by Hamlyn in 1894. Owned by Stewart and Margaret Rose in the middle of this century, the house with garden and statuary was a showplace.
41.McRae-Craig House
5808 Hampton St.
In 1913, at the request of Janie McRae, the Melrose town council "removed" the jail located near this lot so that she could build a bungalow. The house was eventually given to the Methodist Church by Janie's sister, Claudia, and used to house retired ministers.
42.United Methodist Church
The oldest church building in Melrose was constructed about 1879. At one time the bell tower was more elaborate and its bell used to announce a fire or a death to the community. Note the stained glass.
43.F. McRae House
This cottage was built in the 1880's and purchased from A.S. Mosley's widow by Frank McRae, who was the town doctor and also operated the drug store. McRae was the town's first mayor and state representative. The house was originally located across the street.
44. Davis Railroad Depot
In 1913 Davis Lumber Company was granted the right to own and operate a railroad along South Avenue. A.G. McGregor built the railroad depot which was completed in April of the following year. The depot has been converted to a private residence.
45. Eliam-Melrose Cemetary
The Eliam Baptist Church organized in 1869, was located near the cemetary entrance. The grounds were also known as Banana Burying Ground for a nearby community which predates Melrose. The earliest tombstone is dated 1861, and 200 stones bear dates earlier than 1900. Melrose founders and developers are buried here.
46. Melrose School
A high school was constructed on this site ca. 1927. The Mediterranean-revival styling of the 1920's building was reproduced after it burned down in the 1940's.
47. Melrose Gymnasium
Timber from the old Melrose School built ca. 1882 was used to construct the gymnasium (1927).
48. Chaippini Gulf Station
Three generations of the Chiappini family have operated the gas station-convenience store since it was established during the Depression. Changes in merchandise reflect the town's development as a fishing and recreation area.
49. H.A. Vogelbach House
Called "Rosewood Cottage," this house was built in 1879 by Dr. Herman A. Vogelbach. Vogelbach operated the local drug store.
50. Tillman-Earle House
In the 1880's this building, known as "Santa Fe House," was a boarding house operated by Minerva Tillman, a widow and the sister of J.W. McRae. In 1888 she married General Elias Earle, founder of nearby Earleton.
51. Mossman House
This two-story frame house was built in 1881 by Willaim Lee for Mary M. Mossman, a religious leader from Ocean Grove, New Jersey. It was called "Faith House." The colored glass in several small windows is original.
52. Nondenominational Chruch
Miss Annie Harper, who resided in the adjacent house with Mary Mossman, had this church built in the 1920's. Two ladies held nonsecretarian services there for many years. It is now an antique shop.
53. Episcopal Church
Completed by Edson Judd in the summer of 1886, this Carpenter Gothic church cost a total of $327.71 to build. A chancel was added in 1895 and stained-glass windows were set in place eleven years later.
54. Baldwin Store
Constructed in 1899 by Memory Baldwin, the I. Baldwin and Son's general store is the only early commercial building in Melrose still used as a store.
55. Lee House
William Lee, the builder of a number of other Melrose homes, built this one for himself in 1879. He enlarged it as his family grew. The house was operated as a boarding house by his wife, Sarah Alice, in the 1920's and 30's. Lee family members occupied the house for over 102 years.
56. H. Sutton House
In ca. 1892 Herbert and Clara Sutton built a home in Melrose and became part of the Naugatuck, Connecticut winter colony. It was advertised as "Columbia Cottage" in 1894 to attract boarders. The porches have been enclosed.
57. Melrose Women's Club
E.L. Judd built this hall in 1893 for the Ladies Literary and Debating Society. Still used by one of the state's oldest womens clubs, the building is virtually unchanged.
58. Whitehead House
Emory J. Whitehead, an attorney from New York, purchased property in 1883 and built a winter cottage facing Grove Street. The second story was added in 1903. Later the entrance was changed to face the bay.
59. Pineview
On right, corner Seminole Ridge Rd. and Pearsall Cir.
This house was built in the 1920's.
60. Chamberlin House
714 Seminole Ridge Rd.
This frame house was built in the 1890's for B.A. Chamberlin. It is on some of the highest ground in Melrose, which may well have been the site of even earlier dwellings. There have been later additions and alterations to the house.
61. Seven Oaks-Corpew House
737 Seminole Ridge Rd.
Built by William Corpew ca. 1886, this house was originally located on Starke Road. It was moved in this century to the lakefront property of Burt Pearsall on the grade that remained after a railroad spur line was removed.
62. Bonnie Mount
741 Seminole Ridge Rd.
William Bonney and his brother were living in the farmhouse they built on this site when Melrose was surveyed in 1877. The oldest house in the vicinity, "Bonney Place" later became "Bonnie View" and more recently "Bonnie Mount." See Country Living, May 1990.
This information has been researched and compiled by the Alachua County Historical Commission, and sponsered by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners as part of the Alachua County Historical Tour Series (1992)