The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-24
KEY WEST WOMEN
BY MYRTLE COSGROVE
THE WARRINGTON HOME
Their Homes and Gardens

The history of Captain Francis
B. Warrington is so interviewer
with the house still bearing his
name that in writing of the
home, one must of necessity in
clude the master. The Waiting
ton home, designated as Key
Vests oldest house, was erected
by Captain Coussens in 1925. 1t
is said to have been situated near
the corner of Whitehead and
Caroline streets. The present
location of the Naval Station. :.
Attracted by its salubrious CHM
ate, Captain Warrington, in COM
mand of a Chinese Clipper, fire.
quently made Key West a port of
call. Later, when he married
Miss Emmeline Johnson of New
York, he purchased and moved
in 1882 Captain CouSsens' cot
tage to its present site, 322 Duval
street. Nine daughters were
the fruit of his union, seven of
whom lived to a ripe old age.
Elizabeth Lily, the last and
youngest, known to hosts of
friends as Miss Lily. passed
away in the old home in 1886.
Three granddaughter still live
in Key West-Mesdames Stephen
Douglass, Lille Cold and Ross
Sawyer. The compact white
structure is of New England style
architecture modified by a long,
narrow veranda running the full
width Of the house. An interest
ing detail is the plastered ceiling
Of the veranda; probably the only
one of its kind on the island.
The years sit lightly on this
house that was for many years
the social center of the city. It's
excellent state of preservation no
doubt being due to the fact that
il was constructed of cedar by
skillful ship carpenters. AS time
passed rooms increased in ratio
TO the family. Dormer windows
in the attic were enlarged, giving
two additional rooms, while
three were added to the rear of
y the lower floor-as such the
house stands today. An interest
ing feature is the kitchen. Built
some 20 feet distant, it is con-
nected to the house by means of
a covered runway, as was Gus
.omary in many of the old south
ern homes. Striking details are
the massive chimney and Dutch
oven, built of brick with founda-
ton of native limestone, the
quaint Dutch door and tiny win
dows. Today the small rooms,
low of ceiling, contain little of the
original furnishings brought here
from England. Termites have
destroyed many of the valuable
pieces; others have been divided
among heirs. At present the
house contains a chest of drawers
intricately carved, a drop-leaf
table, some few chairs, bureau,
wardrobe, delicate French sofa
upholstered in red damask, sew
eral small tables of exquisite
workmanship, a hurricane lamp,
and two crystal candlestickS.
The unique wardrobe is equipped
only with shelves and drawers,
having been designed long before
clothes hangers were introduced
. An old-fashioned China cloeSt
contains broken sets of many
rare and fragile pieces of Havi-
land, Hawthorn Sprigs, and
Meito ware made in Japan.
Three handsome portraits grace
the walls. These are of Captain
Warrington, his daughter Emme-
line and her husband, William
Wall. 1t is interesting to learn
that Mr.. Wall prior to the Civil
War, was the able and fearless
editor of Key Vests newspaper,
Key of the Gulf. An air of
romance hoverS about the name
of Captain Francis B. Waiting
ton. Born in New York in 1904.
he died inKey West in 1887. The
intervening years are colorful and
fascinating. His portrait en-
closed in a massive mahogany
frame is the highlight of the
house. A Mason of exalted rank.
the artist has painted him in the
full regalia of a Knight Templar.
There is unusual intelligence in
the dark. widespread eyes; hui
NOR in the curved lips; determ-
ination in the square jaw. All in
all, it is the face of man who
has sought and found adven-
ture; who has loved life and lived
it to the fullest extent. For