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Old Town Manor: Doctors, Gardens, Cisterns, and Ghost Stories in Key West

Old Town Manor: Doctors, Gardens, Cisterns, and Ghost Stories in Key West

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Summary
 Old Town Manor: Doctors, Gardens, Cisterns, and Ghost Stories in Key West Host Michele explores the history and lore of Old Town Manor, a bed and breakfast at 511 Eaton Street in Key West, which she and her husband have stayed at. Built shortly after the Great Fire of 1886 by businessman Samuel Otis Johnson as a Greek Revival home that also supported a grocery and butcher shop, it later became the residence and medical practice of Dr. William Richard Warren, whose porch served as a waiting room and main-floor rooms hosted exams and minor procedures. Michele highlights Warren's wife, Genevieve "Miss Gen," who created an ornamental garden by shipping soil from the Florida Panhandle and relied on rainwater collection, including a three-story cistern identified as the tallest in the Florida Keys, before the 1942 freshwater pipeline arrived. The episode also covers renovations, the home's later use as a boarding house, reported ghost sightings, and surviving original features. 00:00 Secrets of 511 Eaton 01:36 Old Town Manor Intro 02:25 Great Fire of 1886 03:12 Johnson Builds the House 04:20 Doctor Warren Moves In 04:50 Porch Waiting Room 06:04 Meet Miss Gen 07:03 Soil Shipped In 08:19 Key West Water Problem 09:12 Tallest Cistern Explained 10:30 Piano Across the Street 11:13 Renovations and Value 11:54 Ghost Stories and Lore 13:08 Host Stay Experience 14:39 Why This Place Matters 15:37 Wrap Up and Call In What do a butcher shop, a doctor's office, a three-story water tank and a potentially haunted bed and breakfast have in common? They all share the same Key West address. In this episode of Fun in Key West, we're stepping inside Old Town Manor at 511 Eaton Street to uncover the fascinating history behind Historic Marker #68. From its beginnings in 1886 to the physician who treated patients inside the house, we'll discover the ingenuity of early island residents, meet the woman who imported soil to create her dream garden and explore a few ghost stories that have become part of the property's folklore. Plus, I'm sharing a little about our own experience staying at this beautiful historic inn. In this episode: 🌴 Key West's Great Fire of 1886 🩺 The doctor who used his front porch as a waiting room 🌺 Miss Gen and her extraordinary tropical garden 💧 The story behind the three-story freshwater cistern 🎹 A piano that reportedly found a new home across the street 👻 The guests who may never have checked out 🏡 Our experience staying at Old Town Manor Explore more: Read about our stay at Old Town Manor: https://funinkeywest.com/old-town-manor/ Visit Old Town Manor: https://oldtownmanor.com/ Discover more about the island: https://funinkeywest.com/ Have you ever stayed in a historic Key West property? I'd love to hear about your experience!
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