Lawndale Historic Home

Transport yourself to 1895 Florida with a visit to Lawndale, a charming and well-preserved historic home nestled on a scenic river street in Rockledge.

Built in 1874 by Hiram Smith Williams (known as H.S.), Lawndale is one of the few remaining examples of Queen Anne–style architecture in the area—similar in style to the Pritchard House, about 30 minutes north in Titusville.

About HS Williams

Originally from New Jersey, H.S. lived a full and fascinating life before settling in Florida. He traveled extensively, eventually moving to Alabama before the Civil War, during which he served as a Confederate soldier. After the war, he married Cornelia and later moved with her and their son, Sydney, to Rockledge. Their daughter, Myra, was born at Lawndale.

H.S. purchased hundreds of acres and began growing and selling Lawndale’s Indian River Oranges, helping to make Brevard County a major hub for citrus packing. The home was named in honor of his citrus business. In addition to running his business, he served the community as County Treasurer, State Senator, School Trustee, and even co-founded the local telephone company.

Though he only had an eighth-grade education, H.S. strongly valued learning. His home included a second-floor schoolroom, where both Sydney and Myra—and other neighborhood children—were taught. The family also had an extensive home library. Impressively, both children went on to graduate from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Touring Lawndale

Today, you can tour Lawndale every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Volunteers dressed in period clothing guide you through the parlor, dining rooms, and kitchen on the first floor, and then up to the bedrooms, schoolroom, library, and guest quarters upstairs.

No reservations or scheduled tour times are needed—just stop by and enjoy with a $10 per person donation. There’s also a lovely shaded garden with seating, perfect for relaxing after your visit on a mild Florida day.

NEARBY DINING OPTIONS

The Lawndale home is in a residential district, but there’s plenty of dining options within a 10 minute drive. The historic town of Cocoa is north of Lawndale, and has a downtown with lots of restaurants and shops. We stopped at Hogan’s Irish Pub to enjoy a pint. We also ordered a toastie and beef stew. Yum!

If you plan to head south, River Rocks is on US 1 in Rockledge and one of our favorite river view spots. We usually order their Caribbean Bowl with Mahi, delicious!

Lawndale was such a fun and unexpected find—I hope you enjoyed the visit too!

I loved stepping back into 19th-century Florida and learning about the citrus legacy, community spirit, and everyday life that shaped Rockledge. Touring Lawndale felt like opening a time capsule—from the period furnishings to the upstairs schoolroom and the stories behind H.S. Williams and his family.

I can’t wait to share other hidden gems I’ll uncover around Florida, while I’m here.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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