The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-02-21
MISS MARY DUNN AND
HER HOME

slender lad was wont 5 to lnger
about the docks and watch the
ships with strapgess wares come
sailing in from foreign lands. :.
As he listened TO tales of sailors
homes from the bounding main,
he dreamed of days when, as cap
tain, he would stride triumphant
ly aboard one of these slender,
graceful vessels and with every
sail set, HE away for the Seven
Seas. Now and then there is
a jealous soul who puts his
dreams to work that they may
procure for him the desires of his
heart. Such was Christopher
Dunn. AT the age of 16 he ran
away from home and shipped
aboard a whaling vessel. Boy
and man he faithfully served the
sea, rising step by step from the
1owliest to the highest in COM
mand. Came a day, when head
ed for Gulf ports, his ship, the
pride of his heart, was caught in
the cruel fangs of the Florida
Reef and ripped asunder. Cast
ashore ons the island, destitute
and penniless, Captain Dunn, as
many a man before him, caught
up the challenge flung by the
hand of Fate, and wrested from
Key West much that had been
taken from him. He lost no time
in seeking employment and when
sufficient means had been ac-
quired, purchased a little cottage
that is still standing at 420 ST.
monitor street Then he and Miss
Pent, one of Key Vests prettiest
maids, were wed. -Four children
were born of their union. In
1861, when the hatred of North
and South flared into civil strife,
Key West remained in the hands
of the Federal forces. Captain
Dunn, whose sympathy lay with
the northern states, joined the
Union Volunteer Corps. as one of
the home guards. There is a
love that comes to one who sails
the briny deep; love so strong
that, though man be taken from
the sea, seldom is the sea taken
from the man. So it was with
Christopher Dunn. When hoStili
ties ceased and the call of Father
Neptune could no longer be
denied, he became a pilot on the
local bar. AS such, he remained
until the One Great Pilot took
over the helm and steered him
for the last port of call. The
builder and original owner of
Captain Dunn's house is UNI
known. The deeds merely state
that the Dunns purchased it in
1857 from William Marvin and
James Riggs. However, it is one
of the historical landmarks of the
island and there is every evil
dence that it has long since
passed the century mark. E.
Working on the supposition that
this was Key Vests oldest house,
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher in
1885 planned to make it a city
shrine. He interested the FERA
in the project and funds were
advanced for its restoration. q.
Unfortunately. it was renovated
rather than restored, and in the
renovation. every characteristic
of its venerable age was
obliterated or concealed. The
hand -hewn beams, mortised and
tenoned were ceiled, while the
massive old door, perfectly
preserved, with hand. forged
lock and hinges, was replaced.
with another of the most modern
type. Fortunately, the huge lock
7X9 inches and the 14-inch hinges
have been preserved The wide
clapboards, termite riddled, were
replaced with weather boarding
None of the original furnish.
ings are left in the house.
Termites. too, have destroyed the
old pieces. A well, said to
contain some of the softest and
clearest water on the island. is
at the rear of the house. In days
gone by an old oaken bucket
dangled in its depths, but now
adays it is boarded up and water
piped into the house. OF the
four children of Captain and Mrs.
Dunn. only Miss Mary survives.
She was born in this house, as
was her niece. Mrs. George
Morris. Although advanced in
years, time has but lightly
touched her. She has had a long
and enviable record as teacher
in the public schools of Key
West At the,yage of Is she
passed the state board examina-
ton for teachers and for So
consecutive years was at her
desk. During this period she was
never t9rdy and only absent
three days. She tells with pride
of the many professional men of
the city whom, as youths, she
instructed in the rudiments of
education. AS a disciplinarian,
her record is outstanding. She
was penSioned in 1885 when the