Macarthur Homes Key West

 

I recently found a few photos of houses being built in Key West during World War II - not after but during. I knew the homes were located just south of North Roosevelt Boulevard. They had subtle differences to prevent returning sailors returning home and going to bed with the wrong women. 

These were known as the Macarthur Homes - maybe named after General Douglas Macarthur. They were 600 square feet, two bedrooms, one bath, all situated on a 5,000 square foot lot. Over the years they were renovated, enlarged, and some were razed and new home built. 

This 1950 aerial photo above shows the Macarthur Homes situated just south of North Roosevelt Boulevard The larger street in the foreground is 4th Street which at that point in time did not intersect with Roosevelt Boulevard which was then known as The Overseas Highway. It looks to be only two lanes. If you look carefully you will see First Street that is only street to intersect with Roosevelt. Over the years North Roosevelt was enlarged into a four lane roadway  and became the main point of entry into Old Town Key West. The previously barren coral rock was filled and developed into commercial space. The Navy dredged the way to the north now houses several marinas

The 1999 photo above shows the progressive changes to this area. I took the photo below earlier today. It is an updated version of an original home in this neighborhood. Some of the houses look equally charming and others are a bit forlorn. That happens everywhere.