|
 It was on the advice of fellow writer John
Dos Pasos in Paris that prompted Hemingway to visit Key
West. Upon arrival in Key West via Havana Cuba, the first
order of business was to locate the new Ford Roadster
Pauline's wealthy Uncle Gus had so generously purchased
for them. Because the car had been delayed in transit, the
Ford dealership insisted that they take up residence in an
apartment located above the showroom. Soon Hemingway
established his routine of writing during the early
mornings when the temperature was coolest, while taking
time to explore his new surroundings in the afternoons. He
resumed work on a war story he had started on the passage
to Key West. Hemingway worked avidly on his novel in the
mornings. The novel, which was published in fall of 1929,
was "A Farewell To Arms".
 Soon after arrival, Hemingway made the acquaintance of
Charles Thompson who ran the local hardware store. Charles
Thompson introduced Hemingway to the exciting world of big
game sport fishing, and a long friendship was born.
Charles and his wife Lorine entertained the Hemingways at
their home on Fleming Street. Lorine Thompson proved to be
as friendly and gracious as her husband Charles, and it was during those
early days in Key West she and Pauline forged a friendship
that would endure for the rest of their lives. After two
seasons in Key West, Pauline's Uncle Gus purchased the
house on Whitehead Street for them. Hemingway's personal touches still abound throughout the house, many
of the unique furnishing are European antiques collected
during their stay on the continent. The trophy mounts and
skins were souvenirs of Hemingway's African safaris and
numerous hunting expeditions out west. The author's
presence can still be felt in his studio where he produced
some of his most well known works. A very visible and
living link to the past are the descendants of Hemingway's
cats. The story goes that Hemingway made the acquaintance
of a sea captain who owned an unusual six-toed tomcat.
Upon his departure from Key West, the captain presented
the cat to Hemingway. Today many of the numerous cats that
inhabit the grounds still possess the unusual six toes.
 Legend has it
that Hemingway owned the home from 1931 until his passing
in 1961. The Spanish Colonial style home was constructed
of native rock hewn from the grounds and boasts the first
pool built in Key West. The pool, built in the late
1930's, cost $20,000. This price prompted Hemingway to
take a penny from his pocket and press it into the wet
cement of the surrounding patio and announce jokingly,
"Here, take the last penny I've got!" That penny is still
there.
His
friends Charles Thompson, Joe Russell (also known as
Sloppy Joe), and Capt. Eddie "Bra" Saunders, together with
his old Paris friends became known as the "The Key West
Mob". The "Mob" would go fishing to the Dry Tortugas,
Bimini, and Cuba for days and weeks at a time in pursuit
of giant tuna and marlin. Everyone in the "Mob" had a
nickname; this was the time Hemingway became known as
"Papa". Numerous works were based on the people and places
he encountered. Hemingway's Key West was a town unlike any
place he ever experienced. The town was filled with
interesting people from the well to do, to the
down-on-their-luck fishermen and wreckers. Hemingway used
most of these people as characters in his novel "To Have
and Have Not" which is about Key West during the
depression, and in his succeeding works.
 After Ernest and Pauline divorced in 1939, Hemingway took
up residence in Cuba. Key West became an overnight station during the 40's and 50's for
Hemingway until his death in 1961.
Throughout the years, Key West has housed many writers and
artists, but none whose presence and influence is as
profound as Ernest Hemingway's. |
