Portraits - Wooden Houses of Key West

68 Pages·1982·11.475 MB·English

by  Sharon Wells, Lawson Little

PORTRAITS:
Wooden Houses of Key West
&
by SharonWells Lawson Little
WhitmoreJ. Gardner House 1221 Petronia Street
trphotograph: 1017 Southard Street, Thomas K. Warren House
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William H. Albury House 730 Southard Street
PORTRAITS:
Wooden Houses of KeyWest
Commentary by
Sharon Wells, Project Director
Photographs by
Lawson
Little
Includes
Old Island Restoration Commissions
Architectural Guidelines
Published by
Historic Key West Preservation Board
Florida Department ofState
1982
The research and photographic work for this book was supported by a grant from the
Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, U.S. Department of the Interior,
through the Florida DivisionofArchives, History&. Records Management, Department
ofState,Tallahassee, Horida.
Our special thanks to Wright Langley, Betty Bruce, Nan MirzaofT, Tom Pope, and Ann
Irvine for theirsupport and encouragement.
TechnicalNote: All largeformatarchitectural viewswere taken byan8x10viewcamera
mm
with a 165 f/8 Schneider Super Angulon lens. Plus-X sheet film was processed in
eitherHC-110or D-76 1:1. Most images wereexposed atf/64forfromfive to90seconds.
mm
Architectural details were photographed with a Pentax 6x7 and a 55 f/3.5 wide
angle lens. Tri-X film was developed in D-23.
Design by Susie Latham and SharonWells
Layoutby Susie Latham
Typeset in GoudyOld Style by Supertype, Inc., Hialeah, Florida.
Published in the United States by
The Historic KeyWest Preservation Board,
500 Whitehead Street, KeyWest, Florida 33040
LibraryofCongress #79-620056
£ Copyright 1982
ISBN #: 0-9435 28-02-X
First printing, 1979
Second printing, October 1982
CONTENTS
AUTHORS' NOTE
7
PREFACE 9
A PATCHWORK OFARCHITECTURE
11
BAHAMIAN INFLUENCES
13
VARIATIONS ON A CLASSIC THEME
18
QUEEN ANNE ARCHITECTURE
27
THECIGARMAKINGERA
37
SHOTGUN HOUSES
38
FRAME VERNACULAR HOUSES
45
INTERIOR SPACES 49
TO PRESERVEANDRESTORE 53
PRESERVATION GUIDELINES 54
NATIONAL REGISTEROF HISTORIC PLACES 61
SELECTED SOURCES 63

AUTHORS* NOTE
This volume of photographs focusing upon contemporary architectural images of
Key Westevolvedfrom a desire todocumenta rapidlychangingenvironment. Nowhere
else in Florida does such a grand and magnificent display of nineteenth century wood
frame structures survive. Few other cities in America can claim such a collection of
Victorian houses. These photographic images represent an exploration into the basic
simplicityandvirtual timelessnessofarchitecturalforms inKeyWest.They impart, too, a
sense ofdiversity within building styles typified by common features.
Over the past decade a significant number of these antique wooden edifices has
—
been razed, destroyed ordamaged. Essentially, they have vanished to exist only in the
realms of memory or photographic record. Many other structures have been altered
greatlybeyond theiroriginal appearance.These, too, aredifficult torecallexactlyasthey
once were. The distinguishing features and singular details of extant structures, which
togethercreate thatspecial ambiance intrinsic to Key West'svernaculararchitecture, are
captured here in the form oflatent images. From mansions to cottages—each is decked
with a pristine splendor that sets it apart; and all are contributory to the stately, wooden
elegance amidst the tropics.
The authors envision their collaborative effort as a significant step towards the
preservationofKeyWest'sislandarchitecture.Throughpersonal interpretations, wehave
attempted to convey the sense ofeach dwelling as part ofthe fabric ofthe islandcity.
To communicate the feeling ofa building as well as its physical appearance is our
aim.
lbphotograph these treasuresofaseaport townso that theirsurvivingheritage will
be preserved is ourhope.
lb document the architecture and to create art within each document is our
purpose.
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426 Elizabeth Street 701 703 FlemingStreet