I have read the ordinance in your Email (Sightseeing Tours) and I am pleased to see that it says the term says Not More than 10 years. That I can live with, however:
-I think that this needs to require use of earphones instead of loudspeakers on vehicles.
- The ability to control the frequency of trips per hour down a street
- The ability to control the hours of trips (ie) 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

I am wondering what others think about the ordinance and what they are concerned about as it is currently written. All this is VERY important to us in the 600 block of Frances St. as for certain ALL the tours will want to go by the cemetery and are unable to turn until at least Southard Street. Recently between 10:00 and 1:00 we had 12 Trains go by our house, and this was only HTA!!

More important I think, is that there is also scheduled the First Reading of Ordinance A - Cityview Franchise. The time to act is on the 1st reading by acting now, not reacting as we are having to do with the ordinance. It can be printed out from the agenda. It is listed as First Reading Ordinance A (708 kb) and it calls for:
- A term of 20 years
- No ability to conform it to a revised ordinance in 2015 when HTA franchise expires and major adjustments can be made without problems from either HTA or
Cityview Tours.
- No requirement of earphones instead of loudspeakers on vehicles
- No control of the frequency of sightseeing tours down a street per hour or hours of operation.


I do not see anything about the Duck tours. What does anyone know about their status?

Phil Wheeler
623 Feances St.

Sightseeing Vehicle Ordinance - Meeting on Thursday, December 3rd

Rudy Molinet requested that we distribute this message to our neighbors –

City Commissioners take our presence at the meetings very seriously. Additionally, if you would like to have input into this matter, but cannot attend the meeting, you can email the commissioners directly (or call them!). Their email addresses are at the end of this email for your convenience.


Dear Neighbors:

The next Key West City Commission meeting will be held on December 3, 2009 at 6:00pm at Old City Hall located at 510 Greene Street. The second reading of the ordinance for the sightseeing vehicles will be held this evening.

I have spoken with several commissioners and they each mentioned how much our presence was felt at the last meeting. If you can make it to the meeting to express your concerns and opinions, that would be great. We need another show of force like we had during the last meeting to make sure that when these vehicles operate in our neighborhoods there are ample controls in place to assure our safety and quality of life in Old Town.

The item is number 10 b on the agenda. The meeting starts at 6pm. If you don’t want to sit through the whole meeting, have dinner first and try to arrive at City Hall by 7:30. It is hard to say what time they will get to this item but if you arrive by this time we should be OK. If you want to speak, please sign up when you arrive using the clipboard located behind the city clerk on the handrail.

Thanks and see you there!

Rudy Molinet
510 Frances Street
Key West, FL 33040

Mobile: 305-240-1090
Office: 305-295-6565
Fax: 305-768-0808
rudy@rudymolinet.com
www.RudyMolinet.com

If you are interested in reading the revised ordinance you can find it at this link: http://www.keywestcity.com/egov/docs/512691259171281.pdf


City Commissioners emails:

Commissioner Jimmy Weekley: jweekley@keywestcity.com
Commissioner Mark Rossi: mrossi@keywestcity.com
Commissioner Billy Wardlow: bwardlow@keywestcity.com
Commissioner Barry Gibson: bfgibson@keywestcity.com
Commissioner Terry Johnston: johnston@keywestcity.com
Commissioner Clayton Lopez: clopez@keywestcity.com
Mayor Craig Cates: ccates@keywestcity.com

Public Comments on Key West Ordinance re: Sightseeing Franchise Ordinance

My name is Rudy Molinet. I live at 510 Frances Street.

I represent the Frances Street Neighborhood Association. It represents 150 households in Old Town. Last evening 40 of us met to discuss the impact of the ordinances before you tonight.

Old Town will suffer the greatest impact of any additional tour vehicles and routes. A professional traffic and environmental impact study and, then, a comprehensive, well-planned ordinance, should be in place before the Commission considers licensing any new tour operator, any more tour vehicles, or any new kind of tour vehicle.

The purpose of municipal franchises and licenses is to regulate the quality and efficiency of businesses engaged in a certain service, in order to guarantee the quality and delivery of that service, and to protect the residents of the neighborhoods in which it operates. That’s why you limit the number of taxies, cruise ships, hotel rooms, liquor licenses, and street vendors. Past lawsuits have in no way diminished the Commission’s right, power and obligation to control traffic safety, traffic congestion, visual pollution, and noise pollution in our neighborhoods – all of which would be affected by adding unvetted tour operators and more and new types of tour vehicles.

At the first reading of this ordinance Key West was compared to Boston, Savannah, and Washington, D.C. These cities have larger tourist areas, more regulators, and more police. Increasing the number of tour vehicles here will increase neither the number of tourists who come here or who use its tour vehicles. Thus, adding more tour companies and vehicles won’t increase the City’s income. It will increase the mass of tour vehicles, traffic danger and congestion, noise and visual pollution, and the taxpayers’ expense of controlling and regulating them.

We respectfully ask the Commission first to conduct a professional impact study and then, to amend the proposed Ordinance to require of any applicant:

1. Personal, financial and business background checks of all its principals.

2. Credible safety and courtesy training programs.

3. Limiting advertising on tour vehicles and requiring ear phones instead of loudspeakers.

4. Florida registration of all tour vehicles.

5. A public hearing and the written approval by a majority of impacted homeowners of any new tour route.

6. Limitation of leases to no more than 6 years.

7. Minimum passenger load of 25% on each vehicle.


We deserve an ordinance that will preserve our quality of life.

(Note: Also see the comments by Mary Haffenreffer below.)

Frances Street Neighborhood Association - Meeting: Monday, November 16, 2009

Dear Neighbors:

Dick and Norma Klein have graciously offered to host our meeting this month. It will be held next Monday, November 16th at 5:30 at their home at 524 Frances.

Mary Haffenreffer will give us a brief overview of the meeting she attended regarding the new potential franchise agreements for sightseeing tour vehicles. She has also posted information on our blog regarding that meeting, which you can read below.

If anyone has an issue they would like addressed this month, please let me know by Thursday, if possible, so we can do any necessary information gathering prior to the meeting.

We begin promptly, so please arrive a couple of minutes early to get settled – and bring a neighbor!

See you next week.

MaryBeth McCulloch

The City Sightseeing Franchise Ordinance by Mary Haffenreffer

Hi Neighbors,

I attended the City Commission’s November 5th hearing on the proposed sightseeing franchise ordinance. The ordinance passed on its first reading. The second reading will be held November 17th. Our Old Town neighborhoods will suffer the greatest impact of any new twenty-year franchises. The right ordinance can save Old Town from being overwhelmed with sightseeing vehicles. A well-planned ordinance should be in place before the Commission considers licensing any new tour operations.

How many more sight-seeing operations will be allowed? How many tour vehicles will be added to our streets? Before a new tour operation is franchised, will the City conduct a study by independent consultants of the operation’s impact on traffic congestion, traffic safety, and noise, and pay the study’s cost with application fees? Will financial and business background checks of the applicants be required? Must applicants submit credible safety and courtesy training programs? Must they have sufficient insurance to indemnify the City for the company’s operations? Should they be required to hire most of their employees locally? Will the City need another department to regulate all these sightseeing operations, necessitating more City employees, offices, salaries, benefits, and taxes?

The purpose of a franchise is to limit the number of businesses engaged in a certain service in order to guarantee the quality and delivery of the service, and to protect the residents of the neighborhoods that it serves. That is why we are served by one electric company, one water company, one trash company. And that is why the City limits the number of taxies, cruise ships, hotel rooms, liquor licenses, and street vendors, among others.

At the Commission meeting Key West was falsely compared with Boston, Washington and Savannah, whose larger tourist areas can accommodate two or more tour companies. Key West has a much smaller and more residential tourist area than such larger cities. Increasing the number of tour vehicles on our narrow streets will not increase the number of tourists: it will increase traffic congestion through more neighborhoods as at least twice as many and larger tour vehicles traverse new routes, creating more noise and hazards.

We have all gotten behind a Conch Train or a pedicab or several ill-driven scooters. Has it really been that bad? YES. But not as bad as getting behind a Conch Train, a pedicab, several ill-driven scooters, an out-of-town trolley, a mammoth Duck tour vehicle, and a double-decker sightseeing bus.

Visitors are being adequately served by the two existing franchise companies. Doubling the number of franchise companies immediately – and who knows how many others in the future – is not something to be done hastily and without proper impact studies and neighborhood input.

We deserve an ordinance that will preserve our quality of life. Please attend the next reading of the sightseeing franchise ordinance at Old City Hall, on November 17th at six o’clock, and let your voice be heard.

Mary Haffenreffer

Grinnell Street Pocket Park Clean Up A Success

On Sunday, October 25, 2009, over 12 neighbors came together to do a major clean up at the Grinnell Street Pocket Park (Grinnell Street and Angela Street) . They were joined by Cynthia Domenech-Coogle, Landscape Coordinator for the City of Key West and Rudy Molinet, Chairperson of the Key West Tree Commission.

We had a great time and in a few hours managed to trim all the trees to encourage further growth and fruit production and removed all the invasive vines that were choking many of the trees.

In the next few weeks, we will mulch the beds courtesy of donated natural mulch from the city.

Thanks to all who worked so hard to make our neighborhood park shine in time for season!

If you want more information on our historic district, check out this link on my website about Key West Architecture. I think you will enjoy it.

Harris School Available for Lease!

Now that the lot has been cleaned up it is on the market. Anyone want a school?

_______________________________________________________

At the last meeting, a question was raised about the weeds and generally trashy look of the Harris School on Southard Street since it was sold. Jim Young from Code Compliance said he would call the new owner: Here is a copy of the email I received from Jim the next day:

MaryBeth,

I spoke with the property owner of Harris School and he advised he would have the weeds cut and the lot cleaned up.

Jim Young

The next day, Jim (McCulloch) and I walked by the school, and there were people out there cleaning up the lot! Great news, and fantastic reactions from both Jim Young on behalf of the city, and the new owner.

MaryBeth

Frances Street Neighborhood Association - Meeting: Monday, October 19, 2009

Dear Neighbors:

The next meeting of the Frances Street Neighborhood Association will be held Monday, October 19, 2009 at the home of Lynn Sherman – 706 Ashe Street. We will begin at 5:30, so please arrive a few minutes early to get a drink and settle in.

We have invited the new Mayor – Craig Cates, as well as our “new” commissioners – Jimmy Weekley for District 1 and Clayton Lopez for District 6. Also, we have invited Chief Donnie Lee for a discussion of safety in our neighborhoods and what we can do to help the Police Department and ourselves.

If anyone has any additional issues they would like to address, please let me know and we can add them to the agenda as time permits.

See you Monday, and please, bring a neighbor!

MaryBeth

Let There Be Light!

For several months one of our neighbors has led a campaign to get a street light on the 700 block of Frances. It seems that the light was removed because one neighbor complained it was too bright. Never mind that this is a public street and never mind that the block was dark. The area was very dark and a trip hazard because the beautiful mahogany tree has uplifted the sidewalk. The city is working on installing a new sidewalk product that will allow the tree to grow and provide a better sidewalk.

Our last neighborhood meeting at John and Jacob's home on Frances Street was attended by several elected officials and candidates ( yes, of course it is that time of year again) and by our City Manager Jim Scholl. In Key West, the City Manager form of government places the executive decisions of running our city in the hands of the City Manager. If you want something done, he is the man who can make it happen. And happen it did, in record time! Several residents asked the manager to intervene immediately and replace the light. The block is dark and we wanted the area lit for safety.

I was on my way today to show one of my listings and voila, much to my delight, there was the light. Beautiful, industrial, protruding from the pole hovering over our beloved Frances Street...waving a big "hello" to our quiet neighbors across the street at the Cemetery.

Of course I had to go by tonight to see if it really was true. So Harry and I went on our usual evening walk...and wow, there was the light!

Check out the pictures. Isn't it glorious? I guess Harry and I have been living in Key West too long that the sight of a street light should bring such delight. That is one of the joys of living in Key West. Imagine telling someone in New York or Boston or Atlanta that were are going out on a Friday night to look at a street light...they would think we were nuts, but isn't that why we all live here, but I digress.

Please take a moment to email and thank the City Manager Jim Scholl jscholl@keywestcity.com

Indeed one person CAN make a difference. Try it out. Next time you see something in the city you would like changed, don't just complain, but be part of the solution. For example, spend 10 minutes a day sweeping your sidewalk, or helping your elderly neighbor sweep hers; take in your neighbors garbage can if they are out of town, keep an eye out for each other, pick up litter rather than just walking by...you get the picture!

After all, that is what neighbors do and what makes our neighborhood the best place to live in Key West!

For all sorts of good information on Key West please visit my website www.rudymolinet.com

Iguanas on Frances Street

At Monday's July 20th Meeting of the Frances Street Neighborhood Association we had Kim Gabel of the Monroe County Extension Service discuss the services available to us from her organization, and to fill us in on the Iguana situation.

Kim indicated that we can turn to the Extension service for any horticultural problems we might have by calling her at 305-292-4501, or dropping by her office in the County building on Simonton Street.

She then discussed the Iguana situation. Not only do iguanas destroy people’s gardens and treasured plants, but they can make quite a mess, and are not welcome visitors in most people’s yards.

Unfortunately as Iguanas have no natural predators in the Keys there is not too much that can be done.

• On a personal basis you can have your pest iguana removed by a Wildlife Control Officer (more on that to follow).


• Do not feed the iguanas as that will encourage them to stay in your yard and breed there, producing more iguanas to torment your neighbors.


• You can plant shrubs and trees that iguanas do not like to eat. Most native plants are not high on an iguana’s list. They love orchids, impatiens, and hibiscus, but milkweed, pentas, oleanders, plumbago, porterweed, wild coffee, lantana, croton and citrus are not preferred food choices. Trees that are not desirable to iguanas are Buttonwood, Ironwood, Gumbo Limbo, and Jamaican Caper. They will avoid toxic and thick-leaved plants.


• If you find their nests destroy their eggs. One study recommended by the University of Florida Museum of Natural History is to create nest boxes to trap them during the nesting season (December-May). To learn more about nest boxes visit their website .
  

Chris Guinto, a Florida Keys Wildlife Control Operator also spoke to the group. He is available to capture unwanted iguanas. Contact him at 305-896-5572 or by email at whiteapeman@gmail.com. Chris said the three areas in Key West that have the most iguanas are College Road, The Salt Marsh area, and the Key West Cemetery. Chris said the old caved in graves in the southwest quadrant of the cemetery are ideal nesting sites for the iguanas, and due to the nature of the graves, it is almost impossible to catch the iguanas and stop them from nesting. Therefore we have a major breeding ground in our neighborhood, producing hundreds of iguanas. The only real solution – get a dog.

Haitian Art Company Building Welcomes New Owners To Key West

You may be wondering what is going on at the corner of Frances and Southard at the Haitian Art Company Building at 600 Frances Street. Well, I have the inside scoop.

The property in under contract for sale and will close in a few weeks. I am representing the buyers in this transaction. The buyers have given me permission to share some details:

The two gentlemen who are purchasing the property are from the Netherlands. They are a married couple (yes, they have same sex marriage over there...hopefully soon here! ) and have a very successful interior design business in Belgium.

"The Boys" as I call them (Jan and George) have been visiting Key West for several years and have fallen in love with our Island. They will be opening a high-end interior design studio in the commercial space and will live upstairs in the apartment. They are planning to do a beautiful renovation of the building that will only improve the neighborhood. These guys are a class act and will be great neighbors and new friends!

Jan and George will be moving full time to Key West to pursue their own version of the "American Dream". I will introduce them to you in the future. Take a minute and drop in to their studio after they open. They will be renovating and are scheduled to open in time for season.

Welcome To Frances Street Boys!

More Violent crime in the Neighborhood!

From the Key West Citizen: City Commission candidate airlifted after assault

Tom Milone, a Key West City Commission candidate for District 1, was brutally attacked near the city cemetery late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. (reportedly on Angela Street near Frances, alongside the cemetery around 11pm and they took off up Francis then west on Truman)

Milone was airlifted to Miami with a broken jaw and other injuries. This was the second attack in two weeks in the same area, but the victims' descriptions of the suspects do not match, police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said Tuesday. Police are continuing an investigation.

UPDATE From the Keynoter: Here is a link to the latest update on Tom. He is facing overwhelming medical bills and you can help him by sending a check to The Thomas Milone Benefit Fund, Centennial bank, 1229 SimontonSt, Key West, FL 33040.

See the Keynoter



UPDATE: Tom is scheduled to return to Key west at 8pm tonight. Due to injuries to his jaw he can't talk at this time so you should probably email your thoughts rather than calling him.

UPDATE From Key West Citizen 7/15/09:

Four teenagers arrested in connection with Old Town muggings

Key West police late Tuesday arrested four teenagers who allegedly beat and robbed two men in Old Town Monday night. The local suspects include 18-year-old Jonathan Bien-Aime, along with juveniles: Christopher Harris, Cornelius Jones and Thomas Reza.

One of the two victims, Caroline Street resident and City Commission candidate Tom Milone, was airlifted to a Miami hospital with a broken jaw and other injuries.

UPDATE From KWPD: A potential candidate for the Key West City Commission was one of two victims of two separate attacks that occurred minutes apart Monday evening.

Tom Milone, 63, was assaulted on Frances Street just after 10 p.m. Just minutes before that, the Key West Police Department received a call that Don Sullivan, 65, was attacked on Elizabeth Street.

Investigators believe the two attacks may be linked. However, they do not believe the attacks are related to a brutal assault that occurred on July 8 on Fleming Street.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest these crimes are based on anyone's sexual orientation.

Milone, who has filed to run for the District I commission seat, was airlifted to Jackson South Hospital in Miami as a result of the injuries. Sullivan was treated by Key West Rescue.

Criminal investigations is currently interviewing people of interest and pursuing all leads.

"We're working round the clock until these suspects are apprehended," said Police Chief Donie Lee. "Once they're arrested, we will seek full prosecution of the law for these vicious attacks."

Crime in Our Neighborhood: Public asked to help find violent robbers

KEY WEST (Key West Citizen Crime Report) -- Detectives are asking the public's help in finding two robbers who assaulted a tourist last Wednesday night.

Two young men stole the man's wallet after one of them hit him, knocking him to the ground about 10:15 p.m. at Grinnell and Fleming streets, reports say. The assailants took off toward the cemetery. The tourist later was airlifted to Miami for medical care.

The robbers were both described as in their late teens or early 20s, between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches tall, clean-shaven, with short hair. The victim said one of them was thin, and the other had "a bit of a beer belly."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday should call the Key West Police Department at 305-809-1111. To make an anonymous report, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-346-TIPS. If a Crime Stoppers tip leads to an arrest, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward.

Tipsters can also call the Key West Police Department, Detectives Division at 305-809-1015.

If you have information that could help solve a crime in the Keys, call Crime Stoppers, (800) 346-TIPS.

AN UPDATE 07/13/09: Chief Lee told me by email yesterday that " The victim is recovering and apparently doing better. We have an ongoing investigation but no arrest(s) have been made so far."

Tosh Comes Through with our New Logo!

Thanks to Jon McIntosh we have a new logo for the association!! Enjoy and leave a thank you comment for him here for this terrific contribution!

Phil

Campaign and Happenings

I just want to take a space here and thank you for letting me listen to your concerns and issues, along with meeting most of the group! I enjoyed the evening and look forward to the next neighborhood meeting.

Please feel welcome to come to my campaign kick off happening this Monday, June 29Th, 5 - 7 pm, upstairs at La Te Da.

With regard to the Duval Corridor I am pleased to hear the discussions continue and the Chamber is taking interest appropriately so with private funding. We must capitalize on what we have here with Art, Music, etc., and use them to attract and keep visitors coming to our little island.

I am keeping an eye on all of the activities at the Truman Waterfront and can only say 'follow the money' for the best decision for We The People.

Side note, I enjoyed meeting with Mr. Greg Wythe, VP Key West of City View Trolley Tours. I am relieved to know he is open minded to look into the GLEE and Bahama Village, Black History areas of our Island. We had a wonderful discussion and I am looking forward to our next meeting. Contrary to what you may hear, he stated publicly at the Innkeepers Social he is only bringing 6 Trolleys to Key West.

James Marquardt


Here is the political disclaimer if needed:

Paid for and approved by James Marquardt candidate for District 6 City Commissioner.

Westernmost Key West

Perhaps this entry can be called a civic concern, or aesthetic, political, economic or all of the above. There is the appearance of major planning activity on the west end of our island. Specifically, there are three centers of activity concerning the Truman Waterfront and Duval Street Corridor:

A. The Duval Street Committee (chaired by Jimmy Weekley) has been meeting on a rather regular basis for a year and a half and is for the second time asking an urban planning firm to make a presentation to suggest ideas of how to rethink Duval as the hub of social life in Key West as it once was as well as an attractive area for visitors. Meanwhile, some six months ago, the Chamber of Commerce also showed interest in Duval redevelopment (my term) and initiated a similar effort with a different firm. The City’s committee and the Chamber are joining efforts in a City Commission workshop on Duval on June 30. Meanwhile, the Chamber is raising private money to inventory Duval businesses and perform related studies.

B. On another front, the city has received two responses to its Request for Qualifications to develop a commercial marina at the Truman Waterfront. One response, by “Key West Harbour” which claims local entrepreneurs and experienced port developers, deals with a marina only (2.4 acres) and the other, by “Meisel and Spottswood”, also a local and marina developer partnership, proposes developing the 23.9 acres that remain in that Navy conveyance. The City Commission workshops on those responses will be June 23^rd and 24^th.

C. Also in the mix is a Request for Proposals due June 30 for what is titled “Duval Street/Truman Annex Improvements”, significant money ($491,000 total but that may be shared with another project) from the Federal Department of Transportation to “provide design, engineering and construction engineering service [my italics; my understanding that this is just design money, not construction] for roadway transportation enhancements.”

Many efforts have preceded those currently underway, but this combination of efforts could be worthy of our attention (???)

Perry

Leaving the Mainland

We're new to the neighborhood - thought we'd introduce ourselves:

We're Chuck and Pauline Sherman, and we're in the little yellow house on the corner of Frances and Fleming. We've had it for about a year and a half now - been getting it ready for full-time residency, starting in about a week's time.

To say we like our little piece of the Rock is an understatement. No, not as a tourist would; rather as a member of a community out of time and place in today's high-speed access world. We've tried to explain the attraction to folks up north - yet to hit on the perfect combination of what makes the place. It's different - and in a good way.

Pauline is the reason for leaving the mainland - she has a rare genetic disorder which renders downward changes in temperature painful. It would be amusing to think she's allergic to the cold - perhaps that's the best way to explain it. Anyway, in our search for the perfect place to reset life we've landed here...and it's a great feeling.

We'd like to get to know our neighbors - the ones we've met so far have been great! It's a blessing to be able to live in a place as this - and discover the real benefit of the Rock are the people. Houses, palm trees and weather are all quite nice, but a community is comprised of the folks who populate it. So...please do not hesitate to stop by and introduce yourselves. in the meantime, we'll be doing the same - getting out and about to learn more of this wonderful place we now call...home.

Thanks,

Chuck and Pauline.

KEY WEST: Home of Presidential Vacations

I thought that folks might be interested in this email that was sent on to me by a friend that originated with Bob Wolz:

"President Obama has heard about the Little White House. Congressman Kendrick Meeks was here a few weeks ago and purchased one of our presidential vacation shirts for the President. On board Air Force One , the Meeks presented our shirt to the president and the president's smile says it all !!!! . Photo courtesy of Kendrick Meeks

Bob Wolz, Executive Director, Harry S Truman Little White House SHS"

Piper and I just spent a magical afternoon with three VERY special ladies.  We met at the lovely home of our good friend Liz Lumb who hosted the "meeting on Frances Street".  First came Norma Dopp and then Ann Gardiner. We talked for almost two hours about what they remembered of life in Key West from 1912 on.  We spoke of water from cisterns, mosquitoes, promenading on Duval Street, the Remembering Tree, life, passing on, children, WWII and blackouts,John T. Sawyer and Miss Agnes and......well, you're just going to have to wait for us to get it all down.  This was one of the most wonderful afternoons and days of our lives.  We promised to get together soon and do it again.  We're all going to bring picture and share them. Chris and Piper

MEETING MISS AGNES

I came to Key West in 1973. August to be specific. I had made several trips in the previous months from my Coral Gables home after being thoroughly and totally enamored with the charm, grace and faded elegance of Key West during this period. As it turns out, it was also fortuitous for it was the time when Key West probably went through its greatest changes from a small fishing community dependent upon navy payroll to one of the premier destinations in Florida.

The house that I moved to was located at 609 Frances Street. Buying it was one of the most singular experiences of my life. At the time it was owned by Mrs. Agnes Sawyer Reardon, whose father, John T. Sawyer, built the home circa 1887. She was much advanced in years but had lived a storied life. Her husband was Lcdr. William Reardon. I never got to meet the man for he passed away in 1955. Miss Sawyer had no children and apparently had to rely on taking in boarders in the grand house which, bathrooms included, contained 17 rooms.

I remember well the first time I went into the house when it was divided up into several living units, the lower of which Miss Reardon occupied herself. You would enter through the front door, turn right and be in a formal parlor room that was divided into the dining area by huge sliding doors that were very elegant and the hardware of which was very intricate and beautiful. The subsequent owners have removed this wall.

Mrs. Reardon, known in the neighborhood as ‘Miss Agnes’, was a very quiet, demure … and the only word I can think of is lady. Her people came out of Spanish Wells. Her hair was coiffed silver grey and she always wore a dress, looking like she was expecting the officers’ wives for tea at any moment. I look back on this time with great regret that I did not spend more time speaking with her about the history of her family and the house. When she left she could not take, and subsequently gave me, several pieces of original furniture.

The house itself was extraordinary in many ways. First of all, it was built by John T. Sawyer who was a carpenter architect who built many of the homes after the great fire of 1886. He apparently became fairly wealthy doing it, for his house was not the biggest on the island but certainly quite large and commodious. It was the home he built for himself and I felt honored to be the first family to live in it after his daughter, Miss Agnes, could no longer care for the house.

Several features of note regarding the house were that it had an original porch that extended out from the now existing porch. It reminded me of the curved ribs of a boat and extended out almost to the sidewalk. The sidewalk itself was alternating blocks of white and grey six-sided concrete tiles. These have subsequently been removed and replaced with brick. The fence contained the original pickets now there but were arranged so they made arches in between each of the posts. The entire house had a decided feature of leaning toward the center which was because there was an extraordinarily large safe under the stairwell painted with John Sawyer’s name on it. I used the safe myself for many years not thinking about the fact that the weight was pulling the house toward the center. I’m not sure if the safe still survives.

One of the most interesting features about the yard is the breadfruit tree in the northeast corner. This breadfruit tree, according to Miss Agnes, was smuggled in by her father. Breadfruit trees are grown from root sections and he, apparently, cut a root section in the Bahamas and used it as a walking stick which got by the Customs of the day.

Another interesting feature of the property was the privy and the woodshed. The privy was a three-holer, small, medium and large. This was attached to the woodshop of John Sawyer in which were many of his original tools including caulking hammers and other marine tool implements.

The bathroom had a tile floor, marble wash basin and claw and ball bathtub. Miss Agnes told me that these were salvaged from a shipwreck which I thoroughly believe.

Certainly the most stunning feature in the house are the cranberry glass entry doors and transom. They are, I have been told, made from a process of using gold for the red coloring. They were etched with a very typical mid-Victorian floral design. One of my greatest fears was that the newspaper boy would throw the newspaper and break them. It was quite indescribable how beautiful they were standing on the inside when the sun was setting in the west The entire entryway was flooded with red light.

On purchasing the house, we put in one of the very early swimming pools. There was a well on the property and, without thinking, I used it to fill the pool. It filled the entire pool without ever running dry. I remember the water was as sweet and delicious as any water I’ve had before or since.

The neighbors – Frances Street at that time was much different to what it is today. There were many families, both old and retired and young with children. On the corner of Southard and Frances Street was the home of Allen Cleare. It was my understanding that he was the county attorney. Later, the famous writer, Nancy Friday, moved into the house next to the Cleares on Southard. The house immediately next door at 611 Frances was split up into apartments and was the primary reason for our moving away for it was constantly inhabited by hippies and drunk shrimpers. The next house down at 613 is where Mary and her mother lived. Some people called her Crazy Mary for she was a very large, loud and somewhat erratic woman who at one time held off the police with a .45 pistol from her doorway. Her mother was a mail order bride. The family immediately behind the house were old conchs and I remember once when I was talking to the grandmother about the fact that my daughter had hiccups, she suggested I lick a small piece of brown paper bag and put it on my daughter’s forehead which would cure the malady. Believe it or not, it worked. She also told me the way to get rid of termites was to put a bare bulb in the middle of a room with a washtub full of water beneath it. The termites being attracted to the light would thus fall into the water. This worked, too … sort of. Across the street, Judge Lucien and Kathryn Proby bought a house and named it “Katie Did”. The retired judge served a stint as county attorney. Kathryn wrote several definitive works on John James Audubon.

The commercial structure across the street and on the corner which is now the Haitian Art Gallery was a ship chandlery that was owned by Mr. Sawyer. I have also heard he was one of the owners of the City of Key West, a ferry boat that operated in the late 19th century. I have never been able to confirm this.

Meeting Miss Agnes and moving into this glorious house was one of the most wonderful things of my life. It entailed meeting old conchs and hearing their stories and living in a home of extraordinary beauty and design. I will never forget my first night sleeping in the upstairs corner, large, seven-sided bedroom with the windows full open and being caressed to sleep by a gentle breeze scented with jasmine from the tree just below. As a more tangible way to say thank you, Piper and I restored the Sawyer mausoleum in the cemetery. It was, and I imagine is, a great house. I wish I still owned it. For now, my wife owns a cigar maker’s house two bocks up the street and that will do just fine.

Recent Bike Thefts

Last month a bike that was very firmly locked to a fence along the street at 925 Southard was stolen during the night.

Last week another bike, also locked to a fence, at 919 Southard was stolen overnight!

Has anyone else in the neighborhood been experiencing this problem?