Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Julius F. Stone

1901 - 1967

— Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden —

Julius F. Stone Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Julius F. Stone Marker

Inscription. Julius Stone was educated in Ohio and at Harvard University where he received a Ph.D in Organic Chemistry in 1926. From a wealthy family, he became a millionaire in his own right during the 1920s. He lost it all during the crash of 1929. In the 1930’s he became an administrator in President Roosevelt's New Deal and was appointed head of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration for the Southeastern United States. This area included Key West which was bankrupt with almost zero employment. The choices were to move everyone to Tampa and make the Florida Keys a park or establish the Keys as a tourist resort or as he called it a “tropical Bermuda.” He chose the latter and proceeded to put the city to work on Federal relief cleaning, building and improving the facilities required. Under his administration a sewer system was installed. The City was lushly landscaped and the airport repaired and work on the overseas highway continued. Mr. Stone brought in artists from the WPA Arts Project to establish an artist colony and atmosphere that still exists today. Julius Stone is reputed to be the first man to wear Bermuda shorts in

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Key West. Stone had absolute control over the city and became known as the “Kingfish.” He did not always follow the Federal rules and some of his projects were of questionable legality. The programs worked and Key West was on the road to recovery from economic ruin. The 1935 hurricane and World War II slowed tourist growth, but his farsighted programs and faith in a tourist based economy were the foundation for the economic well being Key West enjoys today. After Stone left the New Deal, he returned to Harvard and attained a law degree and in 1940 he returned to Key West not only as a lawyer, but also an investment counselor and a real estate broker. Stone spent the next eighteen years wheeling and dealing in Key West. Donated by
The Families
and
The Radisson Hotel Key West

Erected by The Radisson Hotel Key West.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 24° 33.587′ N, 81° 48.409′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Street

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Julius F. Stone Marker

on Wall Street. The marker is located within the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Peter Roberts (here, next to this marker); Maria Valdez Gutsens (here, next to this marker); Charles Helberg (here, next to this marker); Elisabetha Merklin Knight Beiglett Smith (here, next to this marker); Livingston Wellesley Bethel (here, next to this marker); Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders (here, next to this marker); John Watson Simonton (here, next to this marker); Carlos Manuel De Cespedes y Cespedes

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(here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . .
1. A New Deal Experiment Transforms Key West. (Submitted on May 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Key West Sculpture Garden – Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,528 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.