Key West has long been a place for
unique characters to call home. The same can be said of the homes that were
built here in the earlier days of the region’s settlement. There is a distinct
history to the architecture of early Key West. This history is alive and well
thanks in part to not only local residents who want to see these old buildings
continue to thrive, but also because of the Old Island Restoration Foundation, an organization which has sought
to protect and refurbish the oldest of Key West homes since the 1960s. With the efforts of the Key West
community our historical homes are some of the best preserved Victorian era homes in the country.
Key West’s Old Town historic district can claim nearly 3,000 historic buildings, most of them wood and dating to the mid
to late 1800’s, during the peak of
the Victorian era. But not all these historical homes are Victorian in design.
If you take a walk around Old Town you will see a variety of sizes and styles
of homes, all clustered together, with no mind to whether they were built for
migrant workers or those who came with money to the island. As Key West was
being settled, Sea Captains from New
England, shipwreck salvagers from the Bahamas
and Cigar Barons from Cuba made up
the majority of the settlers. The earliest homes in Key West didn’t split
people by class, they brought them together, showcasing a mixture of
architecture style, size and design all in one area, which you can still see today.
Many of the homes in this part of
Key West were built by shipbuilders turned carpenters. These
Conch homes as they have been called
typically have two floors with shuttered doors and windows and verandas that wrap around the home. Most
of these homes were and still are painted in bright pastel colors, a true Keys
style if ever there was one. You may see small openings on the roofs of many of
these historical homes; these are known as scuttles
and help with air circulation, a big plus at a time before air conditioning.
Another prominent style is that of
the Shotgun house. These are small
single story cottages, usually with three rooms, one behind the other, and a
long hallway alongside them for access in the house. The term Shotgun house
comes from the fact that one could shoot a gun from the front door and the
bullet would go straight out the back. These houses were built primarily for
the Cuban migrant workers who came
with the Cigar Barons to work the fields of Key West. Many a baron bought
blocks of land to establish homes for their workers in Key West.
It was the success of the sea faring
and cigar industries that made Key West the richest city in Florida at the end of the 1800s. This influx of
money influenced the homes of Old Town, resulting in many homes built in what
is known as Queen Anne architecture.
Here are the most ornate gingerbread cut outs along rooflines, brackets and
porches, as well as stairwells and banisters. These homes have multiple
balconies, towers and turrets, creating mini castles in wood.
You will find a blending of styles
in the historic homes of Key West. These homes are bursting with charm and
history, and are a vital part of what makes Key West so special a place to be. If you are in the market for a new home and a better
place to live,
and are looking at the Key West area, my team and I are here to help you with
finding the home of your dreams. Please contact me, Jimmy Lane, for all of your realestate
needs.
Labels: Conch Homes, jimmy lane, key west, Old Island Restoration Foundation, Old Town Historic District, Queen Anne Architecture, Shotgun House, Victorian Era Homes
