Titusville in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Nelson Family Garden

Garden #13

— Rudolph & Verna Gardner Nelson —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, April 9, 2022

1. The Nelson Family Garden (Garden #13) Marker

Inscription. Rudolph "Dolph" Nelson was born March 9, 1889 in Nelsonville, Ohio, a town founded by his grandfather who owned a grocery store where Dolph worked as a young man. In 1914 Dolph and friend Harry Sisson traveled by train to Florida and "jumped off” at Indian River City. After establishing himself, he returned to Ohio and married Verna Gardner, a school teacher in 1916. They returned to Indian River City the same year and operated their grocery store and post office. Verna would take the heavy mail sack from the RR hook to the store's post office, distribute incoming mail in the boxes, then reload with outgoing mail and return it to the RR hook for the train to "snatch" as it went by. They had 3 children, Ruth, Edward and Marilyn. During the 1930's they also owned and operated Nelson's Feed Store, located at 323 So. Washington Ave., Titusville. They sold the grocery store in Indian River City and moved to Titusville in 1942 and established the Deluxe Diner. Made of two RR cars it was located on the corner of So. Washington Ave. & Broad St., open 24/7 with 21 employees at peak. Many WWII draftees were fed passing thru town

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based on the 10,400 government vouchers they took in. The diner was moved in 1954 to make room for Baldwin Shopping Center. Dolph then purchased land at the corner of Broad St. & Indian River Ave. and established Nelson's Trailer Park, which was operated by the family for many years. Verna started the Sew & So Club and taught Sunday School classes at the Titusville Baptist Church for 60 years.

Erected by William "Bill"' & Marilyn "Lynn" Nelson Birnbaum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 28° 36.631′ N, 80° 48.482′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Florida, in Brevard County. It can be reached from the intersection of South Washington Avenue (U.S. 1) and Pine Street. Marker located within the Pritchard House Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 424 S Washington Ave, Titusville FL 32796, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, April 9, 2022

2. The Nelson Family Garden (Garden #13) Marker

Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The “Olde Dawgs” Story (here, next to this marker); The Benecke Family Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Losley - Evans Family Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Happy Creek Garden (a few steps from this marker); Carpenter Family Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Legend of the Cresent Moon on the Outhouse Door (a few steps from this marker); The Crannell Family Garden (a few steps from this marker); The Pritchard-Boye’ Family Garden (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Titusville.

Regarding The Nelson Family Garden. These family history gardens were sponsored by descendants of early families that settled in Titusville and

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North Brevard County. The plaques record family histories and stories of the development of the local area.

Also see . . . Family History Gardens. (Submitted on April 19, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.