516 Elizabeth Street, Key West - A True Historic Home

I got to see the inside of 516 Elizabeth Street, Key West (above) for the very first time a couple of weeks ago during Realtor Caravan. It is located next door to 514 Elizabeth Street - the very first house I sold in Key West 23 years ago. 514 Elizabeth Street is supposed to be the second or third oldest house in Key West which suggests that 516 Elizabeth Street may have been built around the same time. Both are built with porches that are but two feet from the sidewalk and have similar interior features even though the architectural styles are totally different.

Realtor Caravan introduces new listings to agents both young and seasoned. I watched young agents take iphone videos of the inside as they walked through the house in seeming amazement. The house has the necessities but it has not been abused like so many with all the creature comforts of modern day living.  Before we look inside let's appreciate this location and an abbreviated explanation about the age of these two properties.

Key West became an important part of US commerce in the 1800s as all marine travel passed by the Southernmost Point headed to ports in the Gulf of Mexico. Much of the Old Town area was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1886. I found the above map (Monroe County Library website) which shows the path and destruction of the fire and a photo that graphically demonstrates the loss of the wood homes and commercial buildings. I added an "X" to mark the location of 516 Elizabeth Street.  Readers who have never been to Key West need to understand ours is an island city  one mile wide and four miles long located out on the middle of the ocean.  The fire fighters and citizens were overwhelmed by the mass of destruction. That so much survived is a miracle. That so much was lost is tragic.

I took the above photo of 514 and 516 Elizabeth several years ago from the second floor front porch of a newly renovated home with a pool and al the contemporary comforts I mentioned above. Seeing both of the older houses gave me pause to appreciate what a special place Key West is. Let's look inside 516 Elizabeth St.

516 Elizabeth Street is one of about one hundred Eyebrow Houses - a style unique to Key West. The roof overhangs the front of the house to provide protection from rain and sun allowing the inside to have fresh air even during a rain storm. The second floor windows start just a few inches above the floor level giving the suggested appearance of "eyebrows".

You enter into a center hallway and notice the ten foot ceilings; stenciled wood floors,  Dade County Pine; and crisp white painted trim and ceilings throughout. Every room is clean and meticulous. It is like a museum in its detail but a cherished living space in its use.

The dining room and kitchen are located at the left and center rear of the house. As I passed through the dining room I was struck by seeing a window opening into the kitchen. I rounded the corner to find a white four coil stove reminiscent of not-so-long-ago. The kitchen cabinets are extra high and look handcrafted.  The ceiling height and exterior wood walls strongly suggest this space was an addition. It is absolutely precious. French doors open from the kitchen to the deck as well.

The top photo shows the deck at 516 Elizabeth Street which has room for a cocktail pool. The photo just above shows the cool pool view at 514 Elizabeth with 516 to the right. What's not to like?

This 1,411 square foot house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms including the first floor bedrooms above.

I have sold several eyebrow houses. Each one is a bit different in size, condition, and interior layout. Remember most were built before we had inside plumbing and were adapted - after the fact to provide it. The upstairs bedrooms here have interior "windows" presumably to allow ventilation.

This home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and awarded the Gold Star for Historic Preservation. It is located in the X Flood Zone just two blocks from Duval Street and all that goes on over there. And it is a short stroll to the Historic Seaport that was and still is a vital part of the Key West economy. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and stunning photos of 516 Elizabeth Street, Key West offered at $1,149,000. 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. This is truly a beautiful. You must see it if you love old homes.

Key West Valentine's Weekend - Two Open House Events

912 Fleming Street is a really big house - 3,328 square feet situated on a really big Old Town lot - 113 feet deep by 50 feet wide.  There are 6 Bedrooms and 5 Bathrooms. The Heated Pool is 30 feet long and sunny all time. Totally private!  JUST REDUCED TO $2,395,000. CLICK HERE for more information.
Open House Sunday 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Hosted by Gary Thomas, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 305-766-2642.

1213 Grinnell Street is a charming single family home located in the Grinnell Gardens Compound. It is tucked away in the corner on a big private lot with its own private pool. The freshly renovated home has a brand new kitchen, two first floor bedrooms with En-suite baths, a study, a laundry room, plus a large second floor third bedroom and spacious bath. And there is a stand alone rear cottage not included in the square footage of the house. Offered at  $1,095,000. CLICK HERE for more information. Open House Sunday 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Hosted by Phil Lavoie, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West 317-292-4423.

Both Homes will be 

OPEN 

SUNDAY

12:00 TO 2:00 PM

711 Southard Street, Key West - Just Listed - Oh Thank Heaven!

Just Listed 711 Southard Street, Key West. This house has become an iconic vision of the perfect Key West cottage as many locals and visiting guests pass it each year and eye the Charlie Brown gang hanging around the front porch. Yeah! It's that house. What a presence it has atop Solaris Hill just two blocks from Duval Street and within walking distance to all that Key West has to offer. Let's consider just a bit of its history.

 The Monroe County Property records show this house as having been built in 1934. I know that is incorrect as the whole United States was involved in the Great Depression then. The WPA did several projects in Key West including the recreation of property records. If the correct date of construction was unknown, the WPA used the project date as the construction date. I searched the Sanborn Fire Maps starting witht the 1889 edition which showed this house then identified as 403 Southard. The 1892 map changed the house number to 611 Southard. That was changed to 711 Southard on the 1899 map. 

I remember showing this house a day or two after it was listed in 2001. As I recall it had just been totally renovated by one of Key West's best contractors (Jeff Erickson). The house looked perfect. It had a gated off street parking with carport - a rarity in Old Town. It was listed at $495,000 and sold at $500,000 or $5,000 over asking. That new buyer did a new renovation. He and his partner renovated some Key West's finest homes including the Gingerbreadman House at 1020 Southard Street. The photos below show the most recent renovations by the current owner of 711 Southard Street.

The 1,514 square foot house has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and oozes charm. The 4,410 square foot lot is fairly large given the Old Town location. By the way, this home is located in the coveted X Flood Zone location.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and view listing photos of 711 Southard Street, Key West offered at $2,100,000. Then be sure to 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. If you buy this home now, it will be your home next Christmas. Maybe we can get the Seller to convey Charlie Brown and the gang with the property.

Three Key West Love Stories

Long time readers know that I moved from Colorado to Key West more than a quarter century ago to own and operate a guest house then known as Eaton Lodge. The place had been boarded up for two years after being foreclosed by the US Small Business Administration.  We moved in a few days before Christmas and started to clean the place up. Locals stopped by and introduced themselves to us and welcomed us to Key West. They asked who we were and told us about themselves and the house - about Doctor Warren, the town doctor, and his wife, Genevieve (second from left below), who started the Key West garden club. That explained the gorgeous gardens and exotic palms other trees on the property. But most of all they welcomed Bob, my partner, and our dog, Gertie, to Key West. Within a couple of months we opened for business on Valentines Day 1994.

Since so much time has passed I do not feel I am betraying any former guest who stayed with us. These are three short tales of love at Eaton Lodge. For readers afar who have never been to Key West and are offended by tales of sex - go away - now!

We offered nice clean rooms at a reasonable price which included breakfast, happy hour, and turn down service at night. We explained this to all guests at check-in. We also introduced Gertie to guests so that they would not be frightened if they saw her laying on the front porch or under a tree or in the fish pond - which she did.

Not too long after we opened a couple from England arrived for a two week stay. They were a sweet couple in the forties or early fifties. They came to Key West each year had stayed at Eaton Lodge before it was foreclosed upon. They were happy to see it opened again. Within a few days I noticed they followed a routine. They would take a "nap" for a couple of hours each day. They were madly deeply in love. We cooked dinner or them one night and they took us to the Cafe Marquesa another.

Two couples from Ft Lauderdale flew into town on a Friday afternoon. The primary guest told me he was dentist in Ft Lauderdale and that he piloted the plane to Key West. I thought he was gay but he had a wife. Both couples looked like movie stars - they were just so attractive. I especially remember that I told them about nightly turn down service because of what happened later. We always one or two of the maids return at night to do turn down service (remove the bedspread , freshen the bathroom with new towels, and turn on a light. The first night of the dentists stay I helped turn down that room. I removed the bedspread and four square pillows when I discovered a large dildo placed between the pillows. I left it under the pillow and finished the room. I could not figure who the dildo was for. It wasn't my business. Still, I wondered. (That wasn't the only time I found one of those either.)

We set up a free bar each night at happy hour which ran from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  Depending on the month of the year first time visitors might skip a free drink and walk to see sunset at Mallory Square. Others would take the opportunity to have a couple of drinks before heading out for a night on the town. I recall one night when we were still sitting outside in the dark after happy hour had ended. A couple staying in one of the carriage house rooms returned with a man. All three went inside in their room. After several minutes the husband came out and poured himself a drink and sat by himself. seemed preoccupied - even moping - over what was going on inside his room. The wife and the other man stayed inside that room for a very long time. We eventually went inside while he stayed outside. The couple checked-out the next day - a day earlier than their reservation. I don't know what happened and don't care. I did not have to call the police.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are!