When my parents were still alive, we gathered the family and had a wonderful dinner at the Classic Mansion in Melbourne, Florida. I usually look genealogically at old houses, I enjoy it immensely when I go into one, and of course wandering through the cemeteries. The Queen Anne style Classic Mansion is perfect for me longing to enter a lovely old house turned restaurant. The restaurant opened in 1981. It took us a while to finally enjoy the ambiance and the menu, but finally we were guests in this unique house.
Strawberry Mansion, built in 1905, was the home of John B. and Nannie McBride Lee, who came to Melbourne from Albion, NY the previous year. Nannie Lee had a winter residence where she hosted all the community; such as, Congregational Church activities, civic functions, and just plain social entertainment, including cool and yummy ice cream socials. The residence was named “The Terrace” by the Lees.
For a long time the Lees’ nearest neighbor was Claude Beaujean who ran a ferry from the mainland port of Melbourne to Melbourne Beach, near the barrier island. The Lees hired Claude to hire carpentry talents to build three parts of their mansion. Claude, the boat-builder and carpenter, embraced the projects of the staircase, the ginger-bread, and the bay window, and perhaps several other things which were similarly decorated. The house was built so solidly that it served as a hurricane shelter when the Lees lived there. This was only a short time before the Lees moved to Florida and their became permanent.
Nannie Lee: Nannie McBride was born in Clarke County, IL in 1847. She married John Lee in 1894, aged 47. Nannie died in Melbourne in 1929 at the age of 82. Nannie and John had an adopted daughter, Lillie Ruth Kiar, born on Christmas Day 1892 in ND and died 45 years later on Christmas Day 1937 in Melbourne, FL where she suffered from breast cancer.
Nannie Lee’s Classic Mansion: By 1975 the long-vacant house was purchased and restored. The house became the wonderfully pink Nannie Lee’s Classics Mansion in 1981. It was, and is, located at 1218 E New Haven Avenue one block above Historic District Downtown Melbourne. My family and I enjoyed our festive dinner on the second floor of the mansion, overlooking the Historic District. The Classic Mansion closed in 2006. Attached to the villa was Mr. Beau Jeans Bar and Grill. I will not repeat this part of ours.
Melbourne Mansion Discovered in 2011: Now the house has been greatly renovated and Mr. Beau Jeans and the mansion rooms are connected with a beautiful dining area. The building is not pink; It is white. They have a very beautiful deck with a great view of the Indian River and they serve all kinds of beer, even in the service. outdoor beer garden with picnic tables. The canon that was placed on the lawns of the Classic Mansion still gives good.
Ghosts: When people think of old houses, they often wonder about ghosts. present Local urban legends are haunted by this piece of Melbourne history, but these only speak with the best of words. science
Sweet memories of a classic mansion. Thank God.
Report:
- www.flickr.com/photos/decrepit-telephone/325850803 /
- articles.sun-sentinel. com/1985-02-03/features/8501040298_1_nannie-mansion-pasta
