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Pritchard House Gardens
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Polly Schuster
Sponsors: Descendants of the Pritchard & Boye’ FamiliesGARDEN #7
An avid gardener who loved all types of plants and flowers, Mrs. Pritchard regularly tended to her rose garden near this site. A recreation and a tribute to her love of gardening, this rose garden is given in memory to our beloved “Mamie” by her family.
EAST ENTRANCE GARDEN
MARY HALEY PRITCHARD
ROSE GARDENMay her love of gardening continue to inspire the ages.
GARDEN #7
Captain James Pritchard, a Confederate Veteran, came to Brevard County in 1875 from his farm in Missouri to prepare for his family to settle on the DeLespine Grant. In 1876, his wife Mary, their children Frances Amelia, Duval Boudinot “Boud” and Kate DeLespine, Mary’s mother Frances DeLespine Boye’ and Mary’s brother Frank, arrived and settled at “Pritchard’s Landing”.
THE PRITCHARD-BOYE’ FAMILY GARDEN
JAMES & MARY H. BOYE’ PRITCHARDWhen a big freeze destroyed crops in 1886, the Pritchard’s relocated to a cottage at the Grandview Hotel on Palm Ave. Capt. Pritchard was the first real estate man in this area, founder & president of the Indian River Bank, which was incorporated as the Indian River State Bank in 1890. He established the first electric light plant in 1890, allowing Titusville to jump from kerosene to electricity without the usual gas intermediary.
The Pritchard’s began building their home on this site in June 1891, moving into it in October. The family continuously lived in the house until it was purchased by Brevard County in 2005. Capt. Pritchard & his son Boud purchased Frank T. Budge Hardware in 1898 from the Captain’s son-in-law, and it became James Pritchard & Son Hardware and remained in operation at 327. So. Washington Ave. until the 1980’s.
Captain & Mrs. Pritchard were members of the Indian River Bathing Club and Mrs. Pritchard was instrumental in establishing a bathhouse for the club at the Indian River Hotel. She was a charter member of the Pythian Sisters. The Pritchard family was very active in the community and activities at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church.
GARDEN #7
Frank Boye’ was no stranger to life in Florida, as both he and sister, Mrs. Mary Pritchard were born and grew up in Key West. While the Pritchard’s moved into town after the Freeze of 1886, he chose to stay on the DeLespine Grant. Frank was active in politics and in 1888 was a delegate to the Brevard County Convention and served on the Senatorial Committee to nominate a Democratic candidate for Senator. He served as County Treasurer in 1901 and 1902. For many years he served on the Brevard County Road Commission as a Road Supervisor-District 1, and in 1901 was appointed by the Titusville Board of Trade to inspect roadwork. Frank was a prominent fruit grower in the state for over 30 years. He was an incorporating member of the Titusville-Indian River Citrus Growers Association when it was formed in 1909.
THE PRITCHARD-BOYE’ FAMILY GARDEN
FRANCES DELESPINE BOYE’ & FRANK H. BOYE'Frances DeLespine Boye’ initially remained on the Grant with her son, but later moved into Titusville and lived with the Pritchard’s. As her family endured many hardships, she made sure they stayed together as a unit. Mrs. Boye’ was well known, deeply loved and highly esteemed, and in December 1901 the Brevard County Commissioners and School Board adjourned for the purpose of attending her funeral service. Titusville may not have had the benefit of the multiple contributions made to its community by the Pritchard & Boye’ families were it not for Frances Boye’. The land Frances inherited from her father, Joseph DeLespine provided the opportunity for these two families to travel across country to settle on the Indian River.
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