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

John Lowe, Jr.

1833-1917

— Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden —

John Lowe, Jr. Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. John Lowe, Jr. Marker

Inscription. John Lowe, Jr. arrived in Key West as an infant from the Bahamas, He had little formal education. John went to sea with his father as a child and he earned his ship master's license when he was 13 years old. At 15, he became a clerk for his brother-in-law William Curry in Key West. Curry's business would prosper first as Browne and Curry and later William Curry's Sons. During the thirty years John Lowe, Jr. worked for him William Curry became Florida's first millionaire. Lowe began his own natural sponge business while still working for Curry. In 1878, he resigned from William Curry's Sons to work full time in his own business buying and exporting sponges. Lowe became the leading sponge dealer in Key West. He owned a large fleet of sponge vessels that were also licensed for work in the wrecking industry. He built a large ship chandlery and became the city’s leading supplier of building materials with his ships bringing building materials to Key West from many ports. Lowe had a large lumber yard at Simonton and Greene streets where he installed the first electric sawmill in the State of Florida. In 1900 John Lowe bought

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the famous vessel Magic . In 1870, the Magic had been the first defender of the America's Cup. In Key West the Magic would be used as a cargo vessel and a supply ship for the sponge fleet. The Magic during the hurricane of 1919. John Lowe's home at 620 Southard Street is one of the architectural treasures of Key West.
Donated by
The Strunk Family

Erected by The Strunk Family.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 24° 33.588′ N, 81° 48.412′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts 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

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. John Lowe, Jr. Marker

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: Carlos Manuel De Cespedes y Cespedes (here, next to this marker); Livingston Wellesley Bethel (here, next to this marker); John Watson Simonton (here, next to this marker); Lena Johnson (here, next to this marker); Captain Edward "Bra" Saunders (here, next to this marker); Ernest Hemingway (here, next to this marker); Maria Valdez Gutsens (here, next to this marker); Peter Roberts (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . . The Key West Sculpture Garden – Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 17, 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 17, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 983 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.