Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Little Red Schoolhouse
Melbourne Florida's First School
Photographed By Barbara Vail, March 7, 2009
1. Little Red Schoolhouse Marker
Melbourne's oldest surviving schoolhouse
built 1883 by John Goode at his house on the river.
Both black and white students, attended 5-6
summer months, sat on benches. Wrote on
slates, drank from well near by. Bought by
South Brevard Historical Society and moved
to FL Tech 1970.
Marked 2005 Abigail Wright Chamberlin,
Daughters of American Revolution & South
Brevard Historical Society
Erected 2005 by Abigail Wright Chamberlin Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) & South Brevard Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 28° 4.012′ N, 80° 37.345′ W. Marker is in Melbourne, Florida, in Brevard County. This marker is located in the Botanical Garden of Florida Tech (formerly called Florida Institute of Technology). The garden is open to the public free of charge and can be reached from a Florida Tech parking lot on Babcock Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Melbourne FL 32901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured
this page online
More about this marker. This marker is located on the school house building. A similar marker is located on a sign near the school house.
Additional keywords. Florida
Photographed By Barbara Vail, May 24, 2011
2. Melbourne's First School sign
Sign posted near Little Red Schoolhouse. It reads:
Melbourne’s First School
This building was erected in 1883 by John Goode, an early settler, about 800 yards south of his home, called Fountain Heights, on the Indian River. This area is now South Riverview Drive.
The schoolhouse served both white and black students and the first two teachers were Maude Goode and May Valentine.
The School was painted red from the very beginning. A hand-operated pump stood outside the door and long benches served as the only seats inside. There were no desks. The students wrote on slates. The school term was only about five or six months in the summer time.
This building was erected in 1883 by John Goode, an early settler, about 800 yards south of his home, called Fountain Heights, on the Indian River. This area is now South Riverview Drive.
The schoolhouse served both white and black students and the first two teachers were Maude Goode and May Valentine.
The School was painted red from the very beginning. A hand-operated pump stood outside the door and long benches served as the only seats inside. There were no desks. The students wrote on slates. The school term was only about five or six months in the summer time.
Photographed By Barbara Vail, June 5, 2011
3. Little Red Schoolhouse
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2012, by Barbara Vail of West Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,160 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on February 23, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2012, by Barbara Vail of West Melbourne, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
