That Time I Went Postal

It was the summer of 1965 when I went postal when I screamed to high heaven and cried out.

The above photo has nothing to do with me or that era. Obviously. I was a summer employee at the United States Post Office in Boulder, Colorado thanks to the patronage position I got from US Congressman Roy Romer. Earlier that summer I worked as a lineman at the Jefferson County Airport. I fueled small general aviation airplanes. My job paid $1.00 per hour. I had a uniform. That in itself was a first for me. I respected my uniform and was appreciative to have a good paying job for that time. Earlier in my youth I sold all occasion cards door to door; sold Spudnuts door to door; and delivered furniture for Look Furniture Company in Denver. My pay ranged from free merchandise for selling cards, seventy-five cents for selling twelve dozen Spudnuts, and an eventual dollar an hour for delivering furniture.  My job at the airport paid $1 per hour and was a lateral move during the summer before I started college.

Denver experienced the worst flood in its history for four days in June 1965. Several helicopters flew out of the Jefferson County Airport (Jeffco) where I worked. Jeffco was a county airport located about twenty miles northwest of Denver. Several helicopters were using Jeffco for fueling during those four days. I remember the late afternoon when I drove my fuel truck to the helicopter, fueled it, set the brake in my truck, and returned to the office. Shortly thereafter three or four of us in the airport office collectively looked east and noticed the fuel truck had rolled down a slight embankment and struck the helicopter. My heart sank.

We all ran over and I told whoever went inside the truck to check the brake. The emergency brake was set but did not hold. One of the helicopter blades was badly damaged. Later I remember the pilot looking at the damage. I know he blamed me. The only mistake I made was not taking the truck back to where it belonged - maybe a couple of hundred feet away. That is my defense and my excuse. I was not fired.

But I quickly accepted a higher paying job at the Boulder Post Office when it was offered a week or two later. I think I made $2.64 per hour. That was a lot of money then. Do the math. If you ever worked an hourly job, cents matter. I have never forgotten the value of cents.

My job was simple. I picked up canvas bags of envelopes, dumped the contents onto a stainless steel messing table where others workers liked me flipped the mail right-side up and moved it toward the cancelling machine all the time placing the stamp in the lower left hand corner. Later when I was skilled, I got to operate the cancelling machine. I would moved pieces of mail one-at-a-time into the cancelling apparatus which would grab the mail, affix the day and time, and send it on its way. Some other people sorted the mail into outgoing containers. Others sorted local mail for delivery. My job required no skill. I guess I failed at that too because one day, just around noon, I got one of my fingers caught in the cancelling machined. I screamed out in pain. The machine grabbed my finger and would not let it go free.

My supervisor was a short red haired man in his fifties, He ran over, shut off the machine, and got my finger dislodged. It wasn't cut off. I wasn't even bleeding badly - if at all. I don't remember. I was in shock. But I vividly remember my supervisor telling someone to sign me off the clock as we headed out the back door to go to the hospital.

My finger was okay. Nothing was broken. I returned to work the next day and stayed at the Post Office until the week before I entered college. I think that was the last hourly job I ever had. I really liked the men I worked with. They were happy with their lives. There was no muss or fuss or any commotion. Simple routine jobs. 

One final comment about Hurricane Dorian. CNN and the national media has once again scarred the hell out of 20 million people in Florida and their loved ones and others across the world. They all need to chill and wait to go postal about a storm when there is actually a storm coming our way. Twenty million people cannot get in a car and evacuate. Scarring people is not the solution to dealing with bad weather.

Sawyer's Bakery, Key West - Architectural History Preserved in Folk Art

A couple days ago my friend Ronny Bailey pulled his pickup truck across the street from Preferred Properties Key West to show me his newest piece of folk art - his depiction of the former Sawyer's Bakery that used to exist at 913 Eaton Street. Later I searched the Sanborn Fire Map of 1892 and learned the house existed at least that early. I then searched through my old shoebox and found two photos of the property which date as early as 1960 when workers at Southernmost Sign were photographed out front - see below followed by a 2019 photo of the same property.

Ronny Bailey is a fifth generation Conch from the Roberts family line who immigrated to Key West from the Bahamas. He was a carpenter and roofer in his younger years. He started creating these folk art depictions of our older homes and businesses after he retired. He re-purposes salvaged wood which he cuts and cobbles together to make these miniature buildings. He carves the chickens and folk figures like "Nana" inside the store. Ronny gave me a brief history of the property dating back to when it was home with the adjacent house. Later the owner updated the front of 91e Eaton with larger windows so that so that passers by could look inside to see the hats that were for sale. Some of the most important homes in Key West were located on Fleming and Eaton Street back in the late 1800s.

Ronny is a man of faith and always adds what I call his three watch words to each of his pieces of art: love, peace, and joy. If you study the cake in the window above you will see the word joy. Peace is written on the yellow bench. And I Love Cake is on the top of the building.

Stop and checkout the underside of the roof. It's painted blue to keep bees from nesting. The places looks as old as the real thing. That is fresh paint made to look ancient. Inside Ronny's humor can be found on various signs including the yellow sign that reads FREE CAKE TOMORROW. Ronny recreated an actual sign advertising Key Lime Pie for five cents a slice. Check the spelling for accuracy.

Some of Ronny Bailey's folk art can be viewed and purchased at his online Etsy Store CLICK HERE.

If you are in the market for a real house in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West . I also bring joy to the world for people who realize the dream of owning a place in Paradise.

527 Fleming Street, Key West - Transient Licensed Property

 

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West - 527 Fleming Street, Key West. This historic property is located in the Historic District just one-half block east of Duval Street. While it is referred to as a "mixed-use property" which includes retail space on the first floor, an apartment on the second floor, and a guest cottage with a valuable Transient Rental License at the rear, it has been "home" to the current owners for more than thirty years. If you are a buyer and get a chance to see the inside, you will appreciate the care and attention to detail the owners have put into this property. I say "chance to see inside" for good reason - I expect this property will be purchased within a couple of days of hitting the MLS.

I dug down into my old shoebox and found the three black and white photos above which show 527 Fleming Street in several decades ago. The top photo was taken in 1965.  It shows the house when the second floor front porch was screened. The middle photo was taken in 1940 from the La Conch Hotel looking eastward down Fleming Street.  The bottom black and white was also taken from the La Conch Hotel looking down Fleming in 1965. One of the two houses to the west of 527 Fleming Street was relocated to Key Lime Square in the 600 block of Duval Street.  The eyebrow house presumably relocated to another location. Fausto's Grocery appears for the first time in the lower photo.

The street presence cannot be understated. It is magnificent. This Revival style home is the archetype would-be buyers aspire to own. The first floor has been a needlepoint shop for several years. The interior includes Dade County Pine walls, high ceilings, and two-over-two windows. The original interior staircase was removed years ago. The owners occupy rooms at the first floor rear including a bedroom with French doors that open out to the pool. An exterior staircase was added on the right side of the house which provides access to the apartment on the second floor. There is an interior staircase in the apartment that leads to the third floor bedrooms and bath.The previously screened second floor porch is now open. The first and second floor front porches provide lots of people watching opportunities.

The property across the street at 532 Fleming Street was originally the Louise Maloney Hospital. Folk Artist Ronny Bailey created the artwork featured above depicting the building in earlier times.  CLICK HERE to read my blog about that property.

I was simply awed the first time I entered the second floor apartment.  It's sort of a throw back to the the interior renovations made during the 1980s and early 1990s - a time before quartz counter-tops, vessel sinks, and designer this and that. The original Dade County Pine walls have been white washed or painted and framed by custom trim work, crown molding, and high base boards painted crisp white.

I checked the Historic Sandborn Firm Maps to determine the age of the building. The 1889 map showed a grocery store was located at the corner of Fleming and Simonton Street. The black and white photo shows a gas station at that location in 1965. Today that space is a Chinese restaurant. 527 Fleming Street remains in place and looks better than ever. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 527 Fleming Street Key West.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of  527 Fleming Street, Key West, offered at $2,675,000. Then contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a personal showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

24 Sunset Key, Key West - SOLD

I thought I would pass along this Key West MLS sale that just posted. 24 Sunset Key a 7498 square foot building lot sold for $3,250,000 or $433 per square foot. That is an empty lot. But it has a pretty damned good water view. CLICK HERE.

Southernmost School of Real Estate - Now Accepting New Students

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Now Open - Key West, Florida - No Shirts or Shoes Required

2905 Venetian Drive, Key West - Bank Owned

Everybody wants a deal in real estate, especially in Key West. The newly listed Bank Owned property located at 2905 Venetian Drive may be the deal you have been hoping to find. I took a few exterior photos which you can see below.

The listing Realtor describes the property and the sales rules below:

"Opportunity to build your Key West Dream Home located on the Riviera Canal. The building is ready for demolition leaving you with a parcel which already has a pool, deck and you can dock your boat behind the house of your dreams on the concrete seawall. The property has 56 feet of canal frontage and is 100 feet deep. The property is a prime candidate for removal and replacement with an elevated home that meets the current FEMA guidelines. Showing instructions are as follows: exterior only--no interior showings allowed.. CASH only Sale...All bids should be submitted on line (void where prohibited). Bidders can submit any offers pre-event on our ''Make Offer'' button on the site. All pre-event or post-event offers will be reviewed and responded to within 3 business days......."

I took the above photos earlier today. I am not a boater or fisherman, but I know the value of this location and the opportunities it affords a buyer who wants to own a new home on a navigable canal in Key West. The photo immediately above shows part of the canal that actually starts on the Gulf of Mexico side of our island. That water flows under North Roosevelt Boulevard and ends up turning east to become the Riviera Canal which then flows out to Cow Key Channel and then the Atlantic Ocean. CLICK GOOGLE AERIAL MAP for a view of the location and its proximity to the ocean.

The lot is located opposite a small mangrove on the south side. The Key West airport is located farther to the south. Most of the existing homes were built in the 1960s and later. A prime example of the style of house a new owner could build is actually in existence now and can be seen across the canal. This little enclave of new homes feature Hardiplank construction, wind impact windows and doors, and metal roofs - all features which reduce insurance costs. New construction also suggests lower maintenance costs for years to come. The difference between those houses and this location is the existing pool, seawall, and canal front location plus the ownership of a 5,600 square foot lot. Owning a big house on a big lot is an important feature to many homeowners. CLICK HERE to see more photos I took.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then please call me to look at the lot or to discuss making a sight unseen offer. Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, or garyethomas@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

PARIS Calling

I spent a couple of weeks in Paris last September. I had been there three times before, but this trip I spent all of my time in one location. I even toyed with the idea of buying a place there.

As I walked around various parts of the city I would stop at real estate offices and look at photos of properties for sale. I quickly learned that real estate prices there were more expensive than Key West. 

When I returned home I did a Google search and found a Paris Real Estate Blog which showcases the company's listings, rentals, and occasional features on Paris.

I encourage readers to CLICK HERE to view VIEWS ON PARIS REAL ESTATE.  The site is slow to load so give it time to appear on your computer. It is worth the wait.

285 Golf Club Drive, Key West - Just Listed!

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West - 285 Golf Club Drive. This 1600 Square Foot home is located in The Sanctuary at the Key West Golf Club Community. I find it necessary to tell prospective owners it is not a requirement that you need to play golf or even like golf to live on a golf club. But if you are a golfer, you'll will probably love this Reese Jones course.

The Sanctuary is a private gated enclave of 54 Grand Conch style homes which abut the golf course as Golf Club Drive loops the area. 285 Golf Club Drive is located on the left hand side four houses from the front and has views of the lake. (You do not have to wrap the loop.) The home is fenced front and rear and has a covered carport plus additional space for a second car. Guest parking spots are available is several locations.

The diagram shows the layout of this home which has a bonus room on the main level which can be used as a den or guest bedroom. There is a guest bath on the main level.

The two guest bedrooms on the second floor front have vaulted ceilings which add to the spatial feel of both rooms. They share the hall bath. The master suite is located at the rear. It also has a vaulted ceiling plus a screened porch overlooking the lake and links. It has private ensuite bath.

The home owner fees are $395 per month and include common area maintenance, pool and grounds maintenance, and basic cable. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS data sheet for 285 Golf Club Driver, offered at $719,000 or $449 per sq ft. Try to find a single family house in Old Town for that kind of price. You cannot do it. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I have sold more than 30 homes at the golf course.  My buyers love their homes. Let's take a look.