The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-04-29
Michigan Ne,Osnen
Writes Impression
OF City And Keys

Harry H. Whitley, manager Of
the newspaper, The Dowagiac
Daily News, Dowagiac, Michigan,
visited in Key West recently and
stopped at the Santa Maria motel
on Simonton street. Upon his re-
turn TO his home. he wrote a col
umn or two under the heading of
Florida Correspondence" and
forwarded clippings of it to Mr.. and
Mrs. George Bonamy, owners Of
the Santa Maria.
Here are some excerpts from
Whiteley's chronicle of the jaunt
to Key West and the Florida Keys.
ssThe city itself is a quaint COM
posite of old and new. Old frame
buildings Of weather-scarred paint
and worn siding. Modern winter
homes of the fugitiyes from North
ern Winters. Some modern apart
ments being built by the Navy for
its men, for this is q navy post
one of the eyes of the defense perl
meter. Here are subs and planes
and destroyers. Here are left the
remains Of two Civil War fortesses
for Key West is the only Southern
city which never left the possession
Of the Union"
Whiteley continued with q mosaic
Of the history Of the island and
got down to gourmet's delights,
green turtle steak and key lime
pie. The trutle steak did not i'm
press him favorably but the shrimp
did. He wrote:
I'VE went down to see the
shrimp boats acomin', or would
have II there had been any out to
come in. But this perverse Florida
weather which includes high winds,
had prevented them from going
out and only one or two were on
hand, but we saw their cargoes
discharged, iced, boxed and load
cd onto waiting trucks for the
market. We saw nice, fat jumbo
shrimps that made ones mouth
water"
He continues: I'VE had been
warned that the road here from
Miami was long and uninteresting
and that there was nothing to see.
But being within 1856 miles--at Fort
Lauderdale. we decided that to
miss this historic and noteworthy
place would show a remissness In
our efforts as tourists. so we blithe-
ly took off this morning into the
to us--unknown. We not only have
no regrets but feel that Ii we had
not done so We would have missed
one Of the country's interesting
places.
The beauty of this trip is in the
variegated colors of the water. We
are unable TO. give an adequate
picture OF the effects Of the com
bined Sun, clouds and sea bottom
as conveyed in tones painted by
the water. The water istelf is "a
clear as crystal but the influences
which turn IL into a Kaleidoscope
| of pastel shades are not easily put
into words. Here il is lucid in vari.
Gus shades of green. But inter,
mingled with the green are strips
and areas OF sand shades, brown
coloring and even darker tones,
indicating shoals and various col
ors Of the bottom. Again il win be
azure. aQuamarine, violet, blues Of
all shades. green's likewise. mixed
all together or sometimes in large
sones Of one major shade. The
waves, rippled by the breeze which
was quite strong, were tipped with
white and gave zest and life e
the picture.
An Increasing number OF PEG
pie are finding the keys an interest
ing place 10 locate. A gas station
attendant told US the population d
the keys had doubled in two years
Fishing Is the major attraction
along with the climate. Every cove
I and inlet houses fishing boats. and
new construction Of modern home:
seems TO be keeping pace with
similar growth on the mainland
We can see no end to il but there
is plenty Of room for any amount