Verifeid: Gary Thomas does have a Heart

To Loyal Readers who have called or written emails in the past few weeks asking why I have not been writing as many blogs as normal, I want to let you know that I have not been my old self lately.  Put the emphasis on old. 

Many years ago I used to work in the commercial loan workout department at one large bank and then became manager of special assets department at different bank. During my years at both banks I encountered many people who had gazillion reasons why they had not or could not repay the money they had borrowed from the bank.  More often than I care to remember, a lot of women and several men (including a former Colorado State Senator) and a president of several small industrial banks in Colorado, would pull out their hankies and cry like babies over their self-created woes hoping I would stop my dogged pursuit of collecting the monies they owed.  I didn't fall for their crying game.  To them, I seemed heartless.  On the day we auctioned off the homestead, numerous sections of acreage, and farm machinery as the wife of a prominent Kansas farmer told me something like "Gary Thomas I hope you rot in hell. You are a heartless man!"  When someone tells you something like that, you might forget the exact words, but you don't forget the sentiment.  Her husband got to keep his very expensive Beechcraft Bonanza, however.  We never were able to get a security interest in that plane. 

Maybe, just maybe, the old farmer's wife was right:  I didn't have a heart.  I have been feeling a bit poorly lately.  I've had my share of nurses inserting needles into me, putting chemicals in me, and radiating my upper body looking for a heart.  I recently had to go to Miami for a more extensive look-see. I really got stuck with some mighty big needles and thingamajigs were sent thought my body in search of my heart. After about an hour of digging around inside of me, they found it. The passages were a bit crusty, but not so bad as to require a stint or worse, surgery.  My ex drove up with me and brought me back last night. He said I could tell people they found it:  Gary Thomas does have a heart.  The good thing is isn't broken and it is gonna keep on ticking. I just have to start taking medicine to keep the blood flowing.  This was good news to me, too. It sure beats the alternative. 

635 William Street - Old Town - Key West

The house at 635 William Street is a bit of a rarity in Old Town Key West because it has fairly deep front yard. Passers-by and internet house hunters may mistake the house as being a simple cigar maker's cottage that sits on a large Old Town lot. The lot is impressive, but this is no cigar maker's cottage. Instead, 635 William Street is gracious 1670 sq ft home with three bedrooms, three baths, a large great room with doors that open out to a remarkable pool and entertaining area. Before we look inside, let's consider the history for just a moment.

635 William street first appeared in the 1899 Sanborn Fire Map for Key West.  The lot itself was identified in the 1889 map - I had never seen a lot that was "cut out" as the address was on this property. There was a small building that sat to the rear of 635. I thought at first that was the house, but it wasn't. The building was too small. Other houses sat closer to the street - the same way they do today.  Perhaps a structure existed an an earlier time and was destroyed by fire. That happened a lot in olden days. That is why they had the fire maps in the first place - to identify houses and out buildings by by size and location that existed at given points in time.  While searching around, I found a photo of Mr. Ulrick R. Henson who resided at 635 William Street in 1918.  Mr. Henson was an employee of the United States Public Health System.  The waterfront pass gave him authorization to enter upon the seaport, located a little over three blocks to the north, which was the center of Key West commerce.

Charlie's Grocery is located at corner of William at Windsor Lane. Upper William continues a dogleg to the west

In his book Panama Thomas McGuane wrote "Marcelline's house is on the dead end of William Street, what was the dead end until the fire department opened on through for access to the wooden tinderbox houses of this old quarter... so that what was once still as a countryside now carried the tin murmur of Truman Avenue".  While researching another nearby home I learned that before Charlie's Grocery was built, a much smaller butcher shop occupied that location (the previous dead end of William Street).  A neighborhood bakery was located next door to the west. Today the 600 block of William Street is one of the most sought after locations in Old Town. The late Shel Silverstein (A Boy Named Sue) and Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly) lived in houses on the opposite side of William Street.

The listing broker describes 635 William Street this way:

"Lush landscaping and excellent curb appeal. This remarkable Old Town home has been impeccably restored. A single story home featuring 3 bedrooms & 3 baths including 2 master suites. Brazilian cherry floors flow throughout the home. The kitchen, open to the living and dining areas, features cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and high end appliances. The wonderfully open floor plan extends to the outdoor areas including the drape covered lanai overlooking the heated pool, spa & waterfall - perfect for entertaining. A hidden space on the side of the home is perfect for overflow guests with custom awnings and roll down walls for privacy and shelter from the weather."             

 Behind the white picket fence sits the house that must be seen to be appreciated. The house is now laid out similar to many homes in Old Town where the bedrooms are located near the front and the living areas are located at the rear. What you cannot see from the street is that the house has a new rear addition that extends both to the rear and to the north. The formal entry leads from front to rear with two bedrooms on right side, each with private bath. Entry to the master suite is located midway down the hallway on the left side.

Formal entry hall leads to the rear addition that includes master suite, kitchen, and living room

Vaulted ceiling in Master Suite and French Doors that open out to rear deck add sophistication to this cozy space

The living room at 635 William Street is totally unexpected.  Like many readers, I was not prepared for how large the living space actually is. The vaulted ceiling is quite dramatic as are the multiple sets of stack-able glass paneled doors that let the owners use the inside and outdoor areas for entertaining.

635 William Street is offered at $1,660,000. Besides the house, this property includes gated off street parking.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos taken by (and used by permission of Michael Phillip of Doug Mayberry Real Estate). After you've done your clicking, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this very sophisticated Old Town home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your home in Paradise.