Key West Art & Historical Society Distinguished Speaker Series Guest Tom Hambright to Give Encore Presentation
Florida Historian and Former Navy Patrolman Tom Hambright’s Thursday, January 12 Key West Art & Historical Society Distinguished Speaker Series presentation at the Custom House Museum is sold out. Due to popular demand, an encore presentation has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 24, at 6:00pm. Hambright, a Retired Lieutenant Commander, will recount important events and his own personal experiences with the Navy in Key West. Tickets are available at kwahs.org/event/the-navy-in-key-west. $5 for members; $10 for non-members.
The Distinguished Speaker Series project is sponsored in part by the Helmerich Trust and the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture and the State of Florida. Additional support provided by the Marriott Key West Beachside Resort.
Another Waterfront Park issue here as Mr. Hambright claims along with former City Commissioner Bill Verge (who has been here since 1939) and others that Building 103 on the Quay walkway is NOT a historic building. This is contrary to what HARC’s city representative believes. However, in the Key West Harbor Development Corp.’s Feb. 1981 booklet, ‘Analysis of Non-Historic Structures’ – Truman Annex Volume I-B, that was shown to me by Mr. Hambright, it clearly states that Building 103 is Non-Historic.
What does this mean and why is this important? Because HARC wants Building 103 to be renovated exactly as it stood instead of being demolished with a new building in its place. Problem is that if renovated the building would not only be a boring looking replica with its plain looking window assortment instead of my recommended arches, but it would also be ill fitted, imo, due to its contour to be best served as – a convention meeting place and wedding reception hall, etc.
If you can’t believe Tom Hambright, who can you believe?