The Curry family came from Scotland in the 1700s to Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos eastern Bahamas. They then immigrated from there to Key West with a dozen other families in 1837. William Curry came with his parents and family and worked in a hardware store which he later owned with his wife, Emily Lowe. He had eight children and prospered in lumbering and ship chandlering in this important port near the Straits of Florida. It was the route to Central and South America.

In 1869, for their 25th anniversry, he built this home for his wife. He made a fortune in ship salvaging and became Florida’s first millionaire. In 1898, his oldest son, Miltore, inherited the house and enlarged and enhanced it. The house was sold by Miltore in 1920 to his cousin, Geroge Allen. The Allens entertained widely and were known for parties on the third floor. Billiards were often played and ice cream was served. Lilah and Sam Goldsmith inherited the house in the 1940s and sold it in 1965 to Dr. Brooks Lalton.

Dr. Lalton moved to Charlottesville in 1971 and the house was empty until we bought it in 1975. We had the pleasure of restoring the Curry Mansion for our private home. The taxes which had been $800 reached $22,000 by 1980. Making the property into a bed and breakfast was Bruce Amsterdam’s idea. With our ideal location, it has become a popular success.