The Pritchard-Boye’ Family Garden

The Pritchard-Boye’ Family Garden. 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" Kate DeLespine, Mary's mother Frances DeLespine Boye' and Mary's brother Frank, arrived and settled at "Pritchard's Landing". When a big freeze destroyed crops in 1886, the Prichards relocated to a cottage at the Grandview Hotel on Palm Avenue. Capt. Pritchard was the first real estate man in this area, Founder and 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 Prichards 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 and his son, Boud, purchased Frank T. Budge Hardware in 1898 from the Captain's son-in-law, and it became James Pritchard and Son Hardware and remained in operation at 327 S. Washington Avenue until the 1980's. Captain and 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.