Scotty's Lumber Legacy in Key West

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key West has been a tourist town for decades dating back to the time Henry Flagler brought his railroad to town. While the population remained fairly static during the same time frame, tourists and later second home owners put a strain on available housing. The town expanded south toward the Atlantic Ocean and east toward the point US 1 enters the island. Both areas had previously been barren coral rock mixed in with salt ponds. There were two principle sources of lumber and hardware - Lindsey's Lumber located at the corner of Simonton at Truman. Stunk Hardware was located at the opposite end of Simonton Street near the Gulf of Mexico. Consider this - Key West is an island located 120 or so miles from firm US soil. Lumber and most building supplies are delivered to Key West by truck. Having a single source of one style of kitchen cabinet made sense back in the day.

Scotty's lumber was located at the corner of 700 Catherine Street - just east of First State Bank. I recall Scotty's relocated back to the corner of Simonton at Truman. See photo below. 

Scotty's then moved to 2801 North Roosevelt Blvd in Key West. That building was built around the same time the adjacent Walgreens. I read online that Scotty's was a Florida based lumber yard with locations across the state. In later years Scotty's added discount pricing to a variety of goods to compete with Home Depot and Lowes. Locally the new Manley deBoer Lumber Company offered premium lumber in Key West. Scotty's was razed in 2004 and replaced by a brand new Home Depot.

That's not the end of Scotty's legacy, however. A few weeks ago I showed visiting buyers a few homes that were built in the early 1990''s. I pointed to the kitchen cabinets. I had seen the same cabinets in Truman Annex, 1800 Atlantic Condominiums, Windward Park Town Homes, and countless single family homes in Key West. Scotty's was the primary provider kitchen cabinets for years. Here are some examples. The first photo is an active listing.

The same cabinets were even in my house when I bought it.Today Home Depot offers a variety of cabinets in many price ranges. Hansen & Bringle Cabinets and Millwork make custom cabinets in Key West while other stores sell special cabinets from other areas and states. Scotty's legacy lives on.

715 Chapman Lane, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed, but not by me, 715 Chapman Lane, Key West. Buyers looking for the charm of an old home and the convenience of contemporary stile need to see this place. But before we go inside, let's look back at the no so distant past.

I found this photo of 715 Chapman Lane in my old shoebox. I have a bunch of similar photos showing laundry hung from the front porch of houses all over Old Town. Times have changed. Most people have washers and dryers and air conditioning now. That was not always the case.  

The above photo was taken in August 2019 while the renovation was being done. The photo below was taken in December 2020 before all the renovations were completed. Most of the homes on Chapman Lane have undergone the same renovation to varying degrees. This new home fits perfectly into this historic old neighborhood.

Let's start from the front door. Notice the detail from street inward. The front porch sets the tone for the rest of the house. All windows and doors are impact resistant. The shutters are there for style and nothing else/ Look up and notice the down-lights. Look down and see the TREX decking.

The master bed and bath are located just off the front door which was moved to the left side of the home. The hallway leads to the living area at the rear. This little change made the space usage so much better. Moreover, take a look at the style the owners brought to the new space. There is a tub and shower in this extraordinary bath. I remember the old place. It wasn't anything like this.

The original has was added onto several years ago. The addition included a spiral staircase that lead to the second floor. But that addition did not look anything like how the house appears now. What an incredible difference. New wood seamlessly transition out to the TREX deck and pool. The original kitchen had a wood door in the center that opened to back yard. Today doors disappear into the wall. I would love to see the reaction of the former owners if they could travel forward in time to see their home. The original home functioned for them and in their day. This home will meet the needs of a modern buyer - probably a person looking for a second home.

The loft bedroom runs the length of the original house. Opaque glass is provides privacy when viewed from below. The laundry room is hidden behind similar opaque door on the first floor. Lots of consistent details everywhere.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and many photos of 715 Chapman Lake Key West offered for sale at $1,799,000. Then please text me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.