The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-31
KEY WEST WOMEN
Their Homes and Gardens
BY MYRTLE coscRovE


The story of Elizabeth Sharp
ley, who directs the activities of
La .Concha, one of Key Vests
largest and finest hostelries,
might be written under the cap,
ton of From Secretary to Mana
ger in Ten Years. Miss Sharp
ley is one of the few women ex-
ecutives of hotels of 100 or more
rooms in the country today. Her
rise to this prominent position
sounds like an Horatio Alger
tale. Back in 1927 she secured
the position of secretary to the
manager of this hostelry. Rapid
ly she advanced, serving in sue
cesslon as telephone operator,
pookKeeper, cashier, ana room
cIerK, unlII 1887 Wnen she was
promoted TO her present position
. inns enterprlSlng young Wom~
an, daughter Ot Captain and Mrs.
Aaron T.. Sharpley, is native OF
Key West. she was born in the
famous old Bahama House on
Eaton street. Her education was
obtained at Converts, both here
ana IN Miami. AT the early age
OF II, she selected school teacn-
ing as vocation. Taught in Key
West and ST. Petersburg. Had
ASPIRATION to be a school ma am
III taraWay Alaska. There were
100 many strings to the contract,
however, so she abandoned the
project and entered upon a hotel
career. Her chief interest in
life is the hotel business. The
care and comfort of guests are
of paramount Importance to her.
To this work she brings a friend
ly personality and feminine
touch that goes far toward max
ing La Concha a success. AS a
child, she was devoted to home
life. So deeply was this love in
grained that today, at the summit
of a successful career, she still
longs to be a housewife, to have
a little place all her own where
she may cook and clean to her
hearts content. Miss Sharpley
is tall with the slenderness of an
athletic woman at the top of her
form. Outdoor sports is her hob
by, with golf topping the list. g.
She adores travelling. AS young
ster, used to tag along on her
Dads ship when he made trips
to Mexico Cuba, and Bahamas. O..
Of late years she has seen much
of the American continents. Has
travelled quite a bit in the United
States, Canada and northern
countries of South America. :.
She does not care for personally
conducted tours, preferring to dig
out the things that interest her;
to browse undiSturbed in out-of-
the-way places. She has little
time for club work, but is a men,
Der of the Order of the Eastern
Star and holds directorships in
the Chamber of Commerce and
Tourists Home Association. +.
Her earliest aspiration was to be
the worlds best commercial art
list, but circumstances barred the
door to attainment. The desire,
in more modified form, still
fingers, awaiting a more oppor-
tune time. Having an analytical
mind, her main diversions are
crossword puzzles and detective
stories. Likes to read herself to
sleep. The more weird and hair
raising the plot, the more she
dotes on it. Blessed with the
necessary attributes for a sue
cessful career, it is not surprising
that Elizabeth Sharpley has climb
ed so far in the business world.
She is matter-of-fact. with an in
dependent spirit and the ability
to think for herself. She ex-
presses herself clearly, crisply,
and concisely. Non-essentials are
tossed aside as she inherently
seeks for the core of problem
and tersely presents it. She is
a delight to interview.