John Lowe, Jr.

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 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 .