Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Oldest House Cistern
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 20, 2024
1. The Oldest House Cistern Marker
Inscription.
The Oldest House Cistern. . The island of Key West, along with the rest of the Keys, has no reliable source of fresh water. Under this porch is a cistern for the storage of rainwater, the only fresh water available in old Key West. Rain was captured off the roof in gutters, and downspouts directed the water into the cistern for storage. Cisterns were very common here. People living in smaller dwellings collected water in rain barrels. Some had shallow dug "wells" that simply collected ground water. Key West has a hot semi-arid climate. Fresh water was a precious commodity used sparingly for cooking, cleaning, and of course drinking, often times boiled before use., This cistern is about 7 feet deep and measures 80 square feet beneath the porch, and is built from brick and cement. Water was retrieved by hand pump or bucket. It is still functional. The water remains clear due to the limestone base and lack of sunlight. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control provide fish which eat mosquito larvae.
The island of Key West, along with the rest of the Keys, has no reliable source of fresh water. Under this porch is a cistern for the storage of rainwater, the only fresh water available in old Key West. Rain was captured off the roof in gutters, and downspouts directed the water into the cistern for storage. Cisterns were very common here. People living in smaller dwellings collected water in rain barrels. Some had shallow dug "wells" that simply collected ground water. Key West has a hot semi-arid climate. Fresh water was a precious commodity used sparingly for cooking, cleaning, and of course drinking, often times boiled before use.
This cistern is about 7 feet deep and measures 80 square feet beneath the porch, and is built from brick and cement. Water was retrieved by hand pump or bucket. It is still functional. The water remains clear due to the limestone base and lack of sunlight. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control provide fish which eat mosquito larvae.
Erected by Old Island Restoration Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 24° 33.436′ N,
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81° 48.247′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from Duval Street north of Eaton Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 322 Duval St, 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
