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To construct the first in-ground pool in Key West, solid coral had to be excavated with picks and sledgehammers. The only pool within 100 miles, it measured 24 feet by 60 feet and was filled with 80,000+ gallons of salt water which had to be drilled because there was no running water (at the time). In addition to its historical significance, the Ernest Hemingway House also serves as a reminder of one of America’s most iconic authors and his lasting impact on literature. The pool has a mammoth 80,784 gallon capacity, and at the time of installation there was no fresh running water in Key West. Accordingly, in 1938, pool construction involved drilling down to the salt-water table and installing a water pump to retrieve salt water to fill the pool. One of the more stunning and unusual features of the Hemingway Home property is the in-ground swimming pool, an extraordinary luxury for a residential home in 1930s Key West.
The former home of the Nobel Prize-winning American writer is now home to dozens of six-toed cats.
Even more mind-boggling is the sheer labor of digging, in solid coral, a massive hole 24 feet wide, 60 feet long, 10 feet deep at the south end, and 5 feet deep at the north end. The Hemingway pool—the only one within 100 miles in the 1930s—was truly an architectural feat. Ernest and Pauline divorced in 1940, Hemingway took up residence in Cuba with his third wife, Martha Gellhorn. He continued to visit Key West during the 40’s and 50’s until death in 1961.
Modern museum
It was his private residence from 1931 to 1939 and provides an insight into the literary genius who lived there with his second wife Pauline Pfeiffer, during some of the most productive years of his career. Everyone in The Mob had a nickname, and Hemingway was often referred to by his friends and family during this time was “Papa”—it was a moniker that eventually stuck with him throughout his life. It was filled with interesting people, ranging from well-to-do businessmen and lawyers, to down-on-their-luck fishermen, to shipwreck salvagers. Soon after arrival, Hemingway made the acquaintance of Charles Thompson, who ran the local hardware store.
- The Family -
The two-story house was built in 1851 in a Spanish Colonial style with an open courtyard and fountain surrounded by lush tropical plants. The house is filled with artifacts from Hemingway’s life, including old photographs, letters, books, furniture, and even the typewriter he used to write some of his most famous works. And Ernest did complain mightily about the growing expenses of construction costs. ” Whether the story is apocryphal or not, there is a penny embedded in cement at the north end of the pool to memorialize Ernest’s purported outburst. In the fall of 1921, he married Hadley Richardson, eight years his senior, and, on the advice of friends, the couple moved to Paris later that year. The Hemingways quickly became part of a group of American expatriates who poured into the French capital in the decade after WWI, including F.
For the last two decades of his life, Hemingway would spend his winters at Finca Vigia, eventually joined by his fourth and final wife, Mary. His Cuban home became a pilgrimage of sorts, as admirers, friends and fans from Hollywood, society and the literary world flocked to his doorstep. As in Key West, Hemingway happily held court, in a home filled with mementos and items that the notorious pack-rat refused to throw out, and surrounded by a gaggle of cats. Several years earlier, he’d met journalist Martha Gellhorn while she was vacationing in Key West. Pfeiffer would remain in the Key West home until her death in 1951, and the house would later be sold by the Hemingway sons after their father’s death. As he had been in Key West, Hemingway seemed inspired by his new surroundings, writing works such as For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea, and receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
Ernest Hemingway's Florida home intact and property's 59 cats are safe after Hurricane Ian - Fox Business
Ernest Hemingway's Florida home intact and property's 59 cats are safe after Hurricane Ian.
Posted: Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The property was on the highest point in Key West, across the street from the island’s lighthouse. Hemingway lived in this house from 1931 to 1939, years during which he wrote some of his greatest novels as well as short stories and poems. Among the most famous works that Hemingway completed in the Key West estate include were Death in The Afternoon, The Green Hills of Africa, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and To Have and Have Not. The house was actually a gift to the newlywed couple from Pauline’s rich uncle, Gus, who purchased the estate in 1931.
The Famous Hemingway Pool
Its rich history and serene ambiance make it an ideal sanctuary for those seeking inspiration and a deeper connection with one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. From the polydactyl Hemingway cats to his literary works, there is a little something for everyone at the Hemingway house in Florida. You can also visit the gift store for all sorts of Hemingway and Key West memorabilia.
Q: How did Key West inspire Ernest Hemingway’s writing?
I’m also a mom of two children & 2 dogs, wife of 1….and a messy cook taking life one bite at a time. Whether your tour guide looks like Ernest Hemingway or not, you will learn a lot about the great writer, his wives, his time in Cuba, and so much more. Mary was able to return to Finca Vigia to retrieve some of Hemingway’s belongings, but the house itself soon fell into disrepair. It was partially restored and reopened to the public in 2007, and it, along with his Key West home, stand almost frozen in time, testaments to Hemingway’s dramatic and eventful life. His works also often include nature and the wilderness, as Hemingway was an avid game hunter and fisherman.
Original manuscripts and early drafts showcase Hemingway’s writing process, his revisions, and his thoughts as he created stories that would captivate readers for generations. The Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West houses an extensive array of Ernest Hemingway’s personal items, each providing insight into the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated writers. The staff employs best practices to maintain the genetic lineage of the polydactyl cats while also ensuring the population remains at a sustainable number through a spay and neuter program. A highlight of the property is the in-ground swimming pool, an extraordinary feature for a residential home in the 1930s. Hemingway’s pool was an extravagant addition, costing, at that time, an astonishing $20,000 to construct. Those tourists bothered him, knocked on his door, distracted him from his writing.
He quickly became obsessed with deep-water fishing, and soon bought his own boat, the Pilar. "Papa" Hemingway, as he’d dubbed himself, took to sailing the nearby waters with friends in tow, who were soon nicknamed the Key West Mob. The couple lived on-and-off in Key West for several years (spending summers in Wyoming), before finally putting down more permanent roots in 1931. Pfeiffer found a house for sale at auction, and her uncle purchased it for $8,000 (approximately $134,00 today) as a belated wedding gift.
As I entered the Hemingway House Museum in Key West, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the literary giant whose footsteps I was following. Dedicated to preserving Ernest Hemingway’s legacy, the museum offers a comprehensive look into the life and works of this iconic author. The displays are filled with personal photographs, memorabilia, and artifacts that provide a glimpse into Hemingway’s fascinating journey as a writer. Ernest Hemingway’s love for fishing and the ocean is palpable in his works, and his time in Key West played a significant role in shaping his writing. The island’s vibrant atmosphere and unique charm permeate throughout his stories, capturing the essence of this enchanting locale. Exploring Key West and visiting the Hemingway House allows visitors to immerse themselves in the same inspirational surroundings that sparked Hemingway’s creative spirit.
During the summer months, the salt water would remain fresh for only about two to three days. Then the pool would need to be completely drained, another day or two would be required to scrub down and remove the algae and debris, and then the cycle would start again. The site where the pool is located was formerly the setting of Hemingway’s famous boxing ring, where he would spar with local amateur boxers such as Shine Forbes. Construction of the pool necessitated relocation of the boxing ring to the site now occupied by the Blue Heaven Restaurant on Petronia Street, a few blocks away. Hemingway and his wife left Cuba in 1960, following Fidel Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government (although the left-leaning Hemingway’s sympathies were with the revolutionaries). In ill health and increasingly suffering from the depression that ran through his family, and which he had struggled against all his life, Hemingway settled in Idaho.
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