William J. Curry: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American businessman}} |
{{short description|American businessman}} |
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{{other people|William Curry}} |
{{other people|William Curry}} |
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'''William Joseph Curry''' (September 11, 1821 – January 24, 1896) was a [[Key West]] businessman and Florida's first millionaire. |
'''William Joseph Curry''' (September 11, 1821 – January 24, 1896) was a [[Key West]] businessman and Florida's first millionaire. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Curry was born in 1821 on [[Green Turtle Cay]] in the Bahamas. He arrived in Key West from the [[The Bahamas|Bahamas]] in 1837 |
William Joseph Curry was born in 1821 on [[Green Turtle Cay]] in the Bahamas. He arrived in Key West from the [[The Bahamas|Bahamas]] in 1837 at age 16.<ref name="Bahamianology">{{cite web |title=Every Curry in the Bahamas Today is Descendant of one of Five Brothers |url=https://bahamianology.com/every-curry-in-the-bahamas-today-are-descendants-of-five-scottish-loyalist-brothers-joseph-john-richard-benjamin-and-william-curry/ |website=Bahamianology.com | date=17 December 2019 |accessdate=21 July 2020}}</ref> Like many [[Conch (people)|"conchs"]], he was a poor white Bahamian who immigrated to Key West for economic opportunity. When he arrived in Key West, it was then the wealthiest town in the state.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://keywest.floridaweekly.com/articles/tales-from-curry-mansion/ |first=MAXINE |last=LOPEZ-KEOUGH |title=Tales from CURRY MANSION |date=2018-01-11 |website= Florida Weekly Key West|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
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Curry started in Key West as a clerk in the office of Weever & Baldwin. After fighting in the [[Seminole Wars|Seminole War]] for several years, he returned to Key West and climbed the corporate ladder. Over the next forty years, he built an empire of [[merchandising]], [[Wrecking (shipwreck)|wrecking]], and [[shipbuilding]].<ref name=":0" /> |
Curry started in Key West as a clerk in the office of Weever & Baldwin. After fighting in the [[Seminole Wars|Seminole War]] for several years, he returned to Key West and climbed the corporate ladder. Over the next forty years, he built an empire of [[merchandising]], [[Wrecking (shipwreck)|wrecking]], and [[shipbuilding]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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| ⚫ | Curry married Euphemia Lowe in 1844, and together they had eight children.<ref name=":0" /> When he died in 1896, Curry's estate was worth $1.5 million.<ref name=":0" /> He was Florida's first self-made millionaire and the richest man in the state.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keywesthistoricmarkertour.org/marker/443 |title=Marker Details - Key West Historic Markers Project |website=www.keywesthistoricmarkertour.org |access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
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Curry had eight children with his wife Euphemia, whom he had married in 1844.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| ⚫ | When he died in 1896, Curry's estate was worth $1.5 million.<ref name=":0" /> He was Florida's first self-made millionaire and the richest man in the state.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.keywesthistoricmarkertour.org/ |
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William Curry built the Curry home in 1855.<ref name=":1" /> Urban legend holds that the Curry kitchen was the birthplace of the original [[key lime pie]], created by a cook known as Aunt Sally.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article215758680.html|title=We all know Key lime pie was invented in the Keys, right? Seems not everyone agrees|website=miamiherald|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
William Curry built the Curry home in 1855.<ref name=":1" /> Urban legend holds that the Curry kitchen was the birthplace of the original [[key lime pie]], created by a cook known as Aunt Sally.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article215758680.html|title=We all know Key lime pie was invented in the Keys, right? Seems not everyone agrees|website=miamiherald|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
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In 1905, Curry's son Milton demolished and rebuilt the home as a Victorian mansion that still stands today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZ6RF_Milton_W_Curry_House_William_Curry_Homestead|title=Milton W. Curry House-William Curry Homestead - Florida Historical Markers on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> The wood used in the home is Dade County Pine, like other homes of wealthy conchs at that time.<ref name=":1" /> In 1920, the house passed from the Curry family to a cousin. In 1975, Edith and Al Amsterdam bought and renovated the Curry Mansion and turned it into a bed and breakfast.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.currymansion.com/history.html|title=History {{!}} Amsterdam's Curry Mansion Inn {{!}} Bed and Breakfast {{!}} Key West, Florida|website=www.currymansion.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
In 1905, Curry's son Milton demolished and rebuilt the home as a Victorian mansion that still stands today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZ6RF_Milton_W_Curry_House_William_Curry_Homestead|title=Milton W. Curry House-William Curry Homestead - Florida Historical Markers on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> The wood used in the home is Dade County Pine, like other homes of wealthy conchs at that time.<ref name=":1" /> In 1920, the house passed from the Curry family to a cousin. In 1975, Edith and Al Amsterdam bought and renovated the Curry Mansion and turned it into a bed and breakfast.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.currymansion.com/history.html|title=History {{!}} Amsterdam's Curry Mansion Inn {{!}} Bed and Breakfast {{!}} Key West, Florida|website=www.currymansion.com|access-date=2018-12-05}}</ref> |
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Seven of Curry's eight children who lived past infancy built mansions of their own on the island of Key West for themselves or their children. These mansions include the Woman's Club, [[Dr. Joseph Y. Porter House|Dr. Joseph Yates Porter House]], the Robert Oliver Curry Mansion, the George Curry Mansion, the [[Southernmost House|Southernmost Mansion]], and the [[Fogarty Mansion (Fogarty House)|Fogarty Mansion.]]<ref name=":0" /> The Fogarty mansion is directly adjacent to the Curry Mansion and is currently the home of both Fogarty's Restaurant and Flying Monkeys bar.<ref name=":0" /> Today, the mansions function as gathering places, historic places, apartments, inns, and restaurants. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 23:15, 6 March 2024
William Joseph Curry (September 11, 1821 – January 24, 1896) was a Key West businessman and Florida's first millionaire.
Biography
[edit]William Joseph Curry was born in 1821 on Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas. He arrived in Key West from the Bahamas in 1837 at age 16.[1] Like many "conchs", he was a poor white Bahamian who immigrated to Key West for economic opportunity. When he arrived in Key West, it was then the wealthiest town in the state.[2]
Curry started in Key West as a clerk in the office of Weever & Baldwin. After fighting in the Seminole War for several years, he returned to Key West and climbed the corporate ladder. Over the next forty years, he built an empire of merchandising, wrecking, and shipbuilding.[2]
Curry married Euphemia Lowe in 1844, and together they had eight children.[2] When he died in 1896, Curry's estate was worth $1.5 million.[2] He was Florida's first self-made millionaire and the richest man in the state.[3]
Curry Mansions
[edit]William Curry built the Curry home in 1855.[3] Urban legend holds that the Curry kitchen was the birthplace of the original key lime pie, created by a cook known as Aunt Sally.[3][4]
In 1905, Curry's son Milton demolished and rebuilt the home as a Victorian mansion that still stands today.[5] The wood used in the home is Dade County Pine, like other homes of wealthy conchs at that time.[3] In 1920, the house passed from the Curry family to a cousin. In 1975, Edith and Al Amsterdam bought and renovated the Curry Mansion and turned it into a bed and breakfast.[2][6]
Seven of Curry's eight children who lived past infancy built mansions of their own on the island of Key West for themselves or their children. These mansions include the Woman's Club, Dr. Joseph Yates Porter House, the Robert Oliver Curry Mansion, the George Curry Mansion, the Southernmost Mansion, and the Fogarty Mansion.[2] The Fogarty mansion is directly adjacent to the Curry Mansion and is currently the home of both Fogarty's Restaurant and Flying Monkeys bar.[2] Today, the mansions function as gathering places, historic places, apartments, inns, and restaurants.
References
[edit]- ^ "Every Curry in the Bahamas Today is Descendant of one of Five Brothers". Bahamianology.com. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g LOPEZ-KEOUGH, MAXINE (2018-01-11). "Tales from CURRY MANSION". Florida Weekly Key West. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ a b c d "Marker Details - Key West Historic Markers Project". www.keywesthistoricmarkertour.org. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ "We all know Key lime pie was invented in the Keys, right? Seems not everyone agrees". miamiherald. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ "Milton W. Curry House-William Curry Homestead - Florida Historical Markers on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
- ^ "History | Amsterdam's Curry Mansion Inn | Bed and Breakfast | Key West, Florida". www.currymansion.com. Retrieved 2018-12-05.