HEMINGWAY AND KEY WEST are as inextricably entwined as peanut butter and jelly. Early Native groups, then Ponce de Leon in the 16th century, had a foothold in Key West; but it was Ernest Hemingway who put this island location on the map in the early 20th century. This Spanish Colonial-style home to Pauline and Ernest in the 1930s still stands today forever joining Key West and the Nobel Prize/Pulitzer award winning writer, Hemingway. At about 3,000 square feet, this home is the largest draw to the town.
Current day residents, the polydactyl, or six-toed cats, said to be descendants of Hemingway’s son’s, Patrick and Gregory’s, multi-toed cat, Snow White, freely roam the premises and sleep where they choose. They are well cared for and reside in the home and surrounding yard, year round.
One of my most touching moments was viewing the studio where he completed a couple of his novels. It felt as if he had simply stepped away and would be back at any time where I swear I could hear the clack, clack, clack of the manual typewriter popular in the day, sitting on his desk.
When built in the mid-19th century, this home was away from town. Now, it is surrounded by shops and restaurants. After too much drinking at Sloppy Joe’s, Hemingway would use the local light house across the street from his home to find his way home. A couple of ironies not missed is today the home is a popular wedding venue; and following the tour, I imbibed at the Hemingway Rum Company.
Esteemed writer, war journalist, troubled soul, larger-than-life man, competitive, world traveler, alcoholic, lover of life, husband (four times) and father to three. There wasn’t much he missed in life, but longevity.
Camp Dawg 