The
above is Ronny Bailey's folk art depiction of how 900 Frances Street
used to look like back in the day. I took a photo of the current
building yesterday which is located just below along with a photo taken
outside the gate of
907 Frances Street Key West about which you
are to read further. (That building has been renovated. It looks
decrepit on purpose.) Living in and among Key West's historic
structures is what makes our little town out in the middle of the ocean
so different than all the rest of Florida. It's hard to get here and
even harder to leave.
I
rummaged thru my old shoebox and found a photo dated 1965 of 907
Frances Street. Compare it to the current day color photo. This lovely
Conch Cottage was built around 1884. I found it on the 1889 Sanborn Fire
Map when it was then identified as 106 Frances Street. Many of our
historic houses have had house numbers changed. Many of the other
smaller cigar maker cottages located on Frances Street, Havana Lane,
Pohlalski Lane, and Jerome Lane remain. The old Pohalski Cigar Factory
is gone. Each house is different today but much of the character
remains.
This
house has two bedrooms and two baths one of which is in the separate
guest cottage shown later. The building sketch shows the main house. The
livingroom photos dhow the Dade County Pine walls and ceiling. Two of
the windows face the south side yard whch allow light to flow into the
room.
The
main bedroom is located just off the kitchen and the bath is located on
the opposite side of the kitchen. If that configuration bothers you,
Key West may not be the place for you. Out old houses have been updated
to give them amenities never intended. This house has all the style of a
Ralph Lauren cottage going on. It is perfectly imperfect.
While
the guest bedroom looks reminiscent of a cabin in the woods, locals and
returning visitors know Key West has great local theater, music, arts,
plus lots of bars, gyms, restaurants, and water sports of all types. We
can compete with almost any destination resort. Hotels and real estate
developers can make new buildings look old, but, like COKE, the real
thing is best.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more photos of
907 Frances Street, Key West offered for sale at
$835,000. Then please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at
Preferred Properties Key West.
