Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Billy Wallace House
Photographed By Jamie Cox, April 19, 2014
1. Billy Wallace House Marker
Inscription.
Billy Wallace House. . This house was built circa 1898-1900 by William O. Wallace from Indiana, who lived here with his wife, May Bell and their four children. An expert fisherman and musician, Wallace kept backyard pens filled with live alligators, turtles and fish for nature study. He loved the river and taught children the ways of manatees and porpoises. He shared the fish he caught with other settlers and with the pelicans. Sandhill cranes ate with his chickens, and a tame fawn roamed the yard., Wallace organized and directed Melbourne’s first orchestra composed of his children and their cousins, the older children of Charles and Addie Wallace Shull who lived nearby. “Uncle Billy’s Band” played at parties at the old Carlton Hotel and at early 4th of July celebrations in Melbourne. Wallace later became the first city band director in West Palm Beach.
This house was built circa 1898-1900 by William O. Wallace from Indiana, who lived here with his wife, May Bell and their four children. An expert fisherman and musician, Wallace kept backyard pens filled with live alligators, turtles and fish for nature study. He loved the river and taught children the ways of manatees and porpoises. He shared the fish he caught with other settlers and with the pelicans. Sandhill cranes ate with his chickens, and a tame fawn roamed the yard.
Wallace organized and directed Melbourne’s first orchestra composed of his children and their cousins, the older children of Charles and Addie Wallace Shull who lived nearby. “Uncle Billy’s Band” played at parties at the old Carlton Hotel and at early 4th of July celebrations in Melbourne. Wallace later became the first city band director in West Palm Beach.
Location. 28° 4.188′ N, 80° 35.886′ W. Marker is in Melbourne, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is on Riverview Drive, 0.1 miles north of Jernigan Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2612 Riverview Drive, Melbourne FL 32901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2014, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 935 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2014, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. 3. submitted on February 3, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
