Key West’s mainstay are its individuals. Many new individuals now make up Key West. The composition has modified dramatically previously 5 years. Time, age, dying, COVID, economics and no matter else are chargeable for the change.
The brand new breed, so to talk, are unaware of what has made Key West what it’s. Most are conscious of Jimmy Buffett. Few are conscious of David Wolkowsky who undoubtedly will be greatest described as the daddy of contemporary Key West. Even to being the person who gave Jimmy Buffett his begin.
David died September 23, 2018 on the age of 99. Sadly I solely received to know him the final six or seven years of his life. We grew to become shut. I loved the connection. I want I had met him a few years earlier than.
Over these few years, I wrote about him a number of occasions. One of many blogs was merely titled “David Wolkowsky.” I wrote it January 16, 2017. I republish it at this time to teach those that could by no means have heard of him to study of the good man.
The “David Wolkowsky” weblog of January 16, 2017…..
“How would you wish to be 96 years previous, go searching your own home city and say…..I’m chargeable for all this!
Just one particular person. David Wolkowsky. With out him, the Key West of at this time wouldn’t have been.
He’s the daddy of contemporary Key West.
Talked about merely at this level to indicate part of David’s contribution. The Pier Home and Jimmy Buffett.
David was born in Key West. A for actual Conch. His grandfather Albert Wolkowsky settled in Key West within the late 1800s. Opened a advantageous clothes retailer on Duval Road.
David grew up in Key West and Miami. Attended the College of Pennsylvania Remained in Philadelphia after commencement. He started restoring buildings. He’s credited with the rejuvenation of Society Hill and Rittenhouse Sq..
His profitable efforts in Philadelphia made him a millionaire.
David returned to Key West within the early Sixties following the dying of his father Issac Wolkowsky. He was 40 on the time. Already financially safe.
David was not one to take a seat nonetheless. He was pushed. He needed to be busy.
The Wolkowsky household owned a number of properties in previous city. He renovated them.
The unique Sloppy Joe’s on Greene Road had been condemned. He purchased the constructing and restored it. Right this moment often called Captain Tony’s.
He developed property on Duval and Entrance Streets. The properties included Pirate’s Alley and the Authentic Cigar Manufacturing facility.
Key West within the early Sixties was nowhere like it’s at this time. Not even shut. The island was neither Paradise nor a paradise setting.
David was a person of imaginative and prescient. He noticed the place others couldn’t.
The Gulf finish of Duval Road a multitude. Soiled and sloppy. No seaside in sight.
David noticed potentialities for the world. He bought the previous Cuban Ferry Dock for $106,000. A steal.
The Porterhouse Steamship workplace was positioned on the property. He eliminated it from its basis and transported it 300 toes. Set the constructing on pilings in 40 toes of water. Turned it into Tony’s Fish Market. A cocktail lounge and restaurant. A profitable enterprise. Visitors in a position to watch shrimp boats transferring alongside on the water.
David wished to remodel Key West into a cool vacationer vacation spot. Unconventional, he sought the offbeat.
In 1967, David started development on a 50 room motel. It was constructed round Tony’s Fish Market. When the 50 rooms had been accomplished, he shortly added 50 extra. These dealing with the ocean. Demand was that good.
David referred to as the motel the Pier Home Resort Motel. From which at this time’s Pier Home grew.
The lodge had a bar referred to as the Chart Room. Nonetheless there at this time. By no means renovated since constructed. Folks drink and lift hell in the identical environment as when constructed.
David bought the Pier Home within the late Nineteen Seventies.
Jimmy Buffett got here to city in 1971. Knew only a few individuals. An unknown. Greatest described, he was a younger man with a guitar who loved his cocktails. His final cease previous to Key West was Austin, Texas. The Austin Buffett sat on his entrance porch ingesting and singing tunes he had composed.
Considered one of his Austin hangouts was Lung’s Cocina del Sar. A bar. The place Buffett met up with Margaritas. The start of his search for an informal new place with a who cares angle. A tropical local weather was required. A seaside resort place.
Buffet and David met. David was taken by him. Permitted Buffett to play within the Chart Room for ideas. Later, for pay. Buffett says David was the first to pay him.
The connection continues to at this time. The 2 shut pals and occasional enterprise companions.
Buffett was looking for his Shangri-la when first he got here to Key West. He referred to as it Margaritaville. He discovered it in Key West.
Bob Marley additionally received his begin by way of David on the Pier Home Motel.
The Pier Home grew to become a magnate for celebrities. David’s character attracted them.
One was Truman Capote. He got here to Key West to spend the winter. At David’s Pier Home Motel.
David was residing subsequent to the Pier Home in a forty five foot 2 bed room trailer. Ten toes from the water. Whereas having a drink with David in his luxurious trailer, Capote mentioned he wished to lease the trailer. David acquiesced after some backwards and forwards banter. David moved to a collection within the Motel. Capote into the trailer.
Throughout his three month keep, Capote wrote Answered Prayers.
Capote described the Pier Home as “elegant inefficiency.”
The Pier Home motel was the start of the brand new Key West. David is credited with placing Key West on the highway to turning into a significant vacationer vacation spot.
Alongside the best way, David constructed the Attain Resort on the Atlantic aspect of Key West.
David saved a low profile. He possessed a sly humor. Drove round Key West in a golf cart or his his beloved 1926 Rolls Royce. Typically seen in a Panama hat. A number of pair of sun shades on the hat, some hanging from his neck.
David additionally did what solely David may do. He constructed a home on an uninhabited personal island 8 miles off Key West. Constructed it whereas constructing the Pier Home. The island referred to as Ballast Key.
David the visionary is exhibited within the development of the home on Ballast Key.
There was a speakeasy on stilts which additionally marked the entrance to the North West Channel in Key West. It had burned down. David collected drawings and images of the speakeasy. He wished his Ballast Key residence to look exactly just like the speakeasy.
He achieved his purpose.
David had a love for Key West historical past. What to call his Ballast Key residence? Straightforward. Hemingway Home.
The story is David fed his friends at Ballast Key sizzling canine, wine and potato chips. The laborers engaged on the home, chocolate pudding and souffles from the Pier Home kitchen. Transported on David’s personal barge.
David was recognized worldwide. Many came visiting David and Key West. Higher acknowledged, they got here to get pleasure from time with David whereas seeing Key West. David the attraction.
David entertained at Ballast Key. Main figures. Most if not all his pals. The likes of Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, British Prime Minister Edward Heath, Prince Michael of Greece, Gloria Estefan, Rudolph Nureyev and the Bee Gees. Final however not least, the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Mellons.
Once more, all had been fed sizzling canine, wine and potato chips.
A Kress 5 and Dime was positioned on Duval Road. David and a small variety of pals purchased the constructing. Three tales. David had a penthouse residence constructed for himself on the third ground. The Parole Board was on the second ground. Kress, the primary. The Kress portion later grew to become Quick Buck Freddie’s.
David’s fame introduced him some not disagreeable notoriety.
The novel License To Kill has 007 calling David to say, “David, it’s James Bond…I’ve damaged into your island. I hope you don’t thoughts.”
City & Nation journal carried a Man Of The Month part. In 1955, David was the March Man of the Month. Cary Grant the April Man of the Month.
Grant was in good firm.
David labored diligently to protect the perfect of previous Key West. He’s primarily chargeable for the shortage of excessive rises. He labored vigorously to stop excessive rise buildings.
Charity sensible, David was a giver. A involved particular person. Academics an instance. In 2000, he arrange a Trainer Advantage Awards Fund. Annually, $25,000 is given to 1 instructor and $5,000 every to 9. Recognition of the excellent lecturers of the given 12 months. David was of the opinion that lecturers needed to be nurtured and guarded.
David Wolkowsky. A legend in his personal time. Owed a lot. Requested nothing in return. His objective to create a greater Key West. He did. His stamp on all the pieces.”
Get pleasure from your day!