All of the stories I write about Key West are true. I change names and places to protect myself from lawsuits. This is a true story. I hope my former neighbor don't read this or sue me.
I moved to Key West in December 1993 to own and operate a guest house. I quickly met many of my neighbors and many locals who stopped in to welcome us to Key West. I was amazed at how friendly and welcoming the locals were. Every single person told me the property had a great location. Eaton Street is own of two streets that lead from US 1 directly to world famous Duval Street. My guest house was located about 100 feet east of Duval Street. I quickly learned the value of that location when tourists without a room reservation showed up. This was before the Internet but is probably as true today. People get in cars and head to Key West not knowing exactly what to expect. Some never leave.
I learned the guest house was the former home of Dr Warren and his wife Genevie pictured above. They lived in a grand house which later became a guest house - one of the prettiest homes on the Island of Key West.
We soon me the owner of the one level house a few doors to the east. His house was located between to guest houses, one being the former restaurant which I wrote about a few months back - the restaurant that had dead cats hidden behind the refrigerators.The Canadian's house was in pretty sad condition. The house sat on a 4,800 square foot lot 300 feet eat of Duval. The land was worth more than the house.
At the end of season our Canadian neighbor invited us to Sunday Dinner. Neighbors from a nearby lane were also invited - he was a real estate agent and his wife a ballet instructor. We chatted and then feasted upon leftovers from the Canadian's refrigerator. He told me that he was cleaning out the refrigerator before heading back to Canada for summer. How thoughtful! And frugal too!
This story has no ending except to add the fate of the little house. The Canadian purchased in in 1972 for $25,000. He sold it in 1998 for $295,000 and was re-sold in 2005 for $1,300,000. The old house was razed, a small cottage added, but the lot was and still is used as a parking lot for a nearby guest house. You can't make this stuff up.
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