The William Alfred Johnson House

The William Alfred Johnson House at 824 Fleming Street is a grand, Classic Revival historic dwelling, defined by intricate gingerbread patterns and delicate wooden scrollwork. William A. Johnson, one of Key West's most talented carpenter-builders erected this manse in 1899, on property he purchased in 1881, after emigrating from Harbour Island in the Bahamas., Following his older brother's move to Key West, William Johnson arrived in 1880 in Key West where he applied for citizenship. He soon purchased this homestead lot from William W. Pinder for $240. He erected a one-story clapboard clapboard home here in 1881. In 1899, Johnson constructed this 2-story Classic Revival architectural gem. The detailing, interior finishes and gingerbread are remarkably intact., Apprenticed to architect William Kerr, William and his brother Copeland emerged as important carpenter-architects in the burgeoning island city. The original Weather Bureau on the Key West Naval Station, the naval Surgeon's Quarters and the "Arch "Houses" at Eaton and William streets are existing examples of their workmanship., The Johnson brothers designed and owned the elaborate 3-story Over-Sea Hotel, a half block away, at 917 Fleming. Built in 1912 after Henry Flagler's railroad arrived, that edifice, no longer standing, offered Key West's only decent rooms for travelers for $1 a day. In May, 1928, a young Ernest Hemingway arrived in Key West, "an island in the sun," at the urging of writer John Dos Passos., Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms in the mornings, and he assembled an eclectic group of cronies, locals, writers, artists, fishing guides, his "Mob." The writer's visitors stayed at Johnson's Over-Sea Hotel, breakfasting on grunts and grits, and drinking strong Cuban coffee at Mrs. Baker's Electric Kitchen, next door at Fleming and Margaret streets. Hemingway's "Mob," included editor Max Perkins, painters Mike Strater and Waldo Pierce, author Dos Passos, locals Charles Thompson, "Sloppy Joe" Russell and Bra Saunders. They fished the Gulf Stream for tarpon; nightly imbibing "Papa Dobles," delicious rum concoctions. William A. Johnson, by then a distinguished and well-to-do hotelier and owner of Johnson's Hardware, surely socialized with Hemingway's cronies here., Claudia Johnson, William's young second wife, lived at 824 Fleming for 30 years after his passing in March 1931, of age 84. Thus for 50 years William Johnson called this outstanding Victorian era dwelling his home., Richard and Deborah Pesce rented the Johnson House, fell in love with it, and on October 14, 2016, purchased this stately Conch House. Preservation efforts continue to enhance this elaborate National Register home.