The Key West Citizen Newspaper, June 12, 1954, Page 6

City’s Most Unique Home Built On Washington St. Paralyzed Vet Lives In New Specially Planned Home What appears to be one of Key West’s most unique homes has been completed at Washington Avenue and Tropical Street. It is the residence of Bill Hoffman, a veteran of World War II who is con- fined to a wheel chair as the result of a bout with rheu- matic fever incurred on the Belgian front. And the home, built by contractor J. L. Staples, is also one of the areas most beautiful structure. It was designed especially to fit Hoffman’s needs by a Veter- ans’ Administration architect aft- er a two-year study of his particu- lar case. Recognizing the need for housing provisions for paraplegic veterans (those who have perm- anently lost the use of both low- er extremities), the Veterans Ad- ministration had Public Law 702 enacted. The law provides that the Veterans Administration may make an outright gift of half the cost of specially built homes for such persons, up to ten thousand |; dollars Florida House In Hoffman's case, a seven- room Florida home, designed to reduce the difficulty of his daily | his routine to a minimum, is the re- sult. Many features to aid him in being self-sufficient have been ineluded in the design which was conceived by architect John A. ‘Tripp, Miami, who has planned some 300 such homes. At first glance, the house ap- pears to ‘be of construc- tion, but Hoffman points out that, for example, the doorways are tk rag in width so Ago a w) ir may pass ugh them easily. And the hallways are four feet wide, another con- Key West Radio and TV Service Calls Answered ; Promptly We Do Antenna Installations TELEVISION SETS TV ANTENNA and ACCESSORIES FOR SALE 826 Duval Street TELEPHONE 2-8511 UNIQUE HOME—This beautiful home at the corner of Washington and Tropical Streets, is occu. pied by Bill Hoffman and his family. Hoffman is a disabled War Veteran. Home was especially designed by Veterans Administration to fit his needs —Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. venient feature. There are no door sills. Important Point “That's important to a fellow in a wheelchair,” said Hoffman with a grin. Hoffman also commented that the Veterans Administration says that 78 per cent of all fires in houses start in the kitchen, there- fore the home is designed so that Hoffman can leave without go- ing near or through the kitchen in the’ event of a fire. is a double car port to allow Hoffman to maneuver his wheelchair when getting in or out car. The shower bath has a seat built into it with “grab bars” planned to aid him in getting in and out of the shower. The light switches are lower than usual, so that they can be operated from a sitting position. And the sink plumbing .is concealed so that the wheel chair may be moved in close. The needs of the rest of the family (Hoffman has a wife and an 11-year-old daughter) are also taken care of—hence there is an- other, conventional bath. Exercise Room The home ‘also includes an ex- ercise room where the ovvner may keep in shape. Hoffman, a native of Balti- more, chose Key West for a rea- son—he feels better -here. The arthritic condition which devel- oped as a result of his illness is relieved by Key West’s climate. Every afternoon finds him at the beach, soaking up the sunshine. “T’'ve been all over the country seeking relief and I found it in Key West,” he said with a smile. “I just can’t think of a place I like as much.” ~ The Maxwell Co., Inc. South’s Largest Furniture Dealers COMPLETE HOME FURNISHINGS _ Custom Made Venetian Blinds (PAST DELIVERY) Outdoor Aluminum and Patio Furniture (TO PLEASE YOUR EYE AND POCKETBOOK) Apartment - Motel - Hotel Supplies (DECORATOR SERVICE) Bar and Restaurant Equipment (COMPLETE LINE) 901 - 909 Fleming Street Telephone 2-6031 ai ah oe BILL HOFFMAN is shown leaving the home, accompanied by his wife, 4 front door of his new Florence. Hoffman is confined to wheel chair and his new home has features designed to make it more comfortable, such as extra wide doors and hallways and no door sills.—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil. Everglades Park Roads Are Planned Early construction of $928,000 of Air Age Aids Manager Of Restaurant M. C. Kozak, general manager roads for the Everglades National | 0f the new Howard Johnson store Park was requested this week by Secretary of Interior McKay, it was announced by Senators Hol- land Smathers, The Secretary asked the Senate Appropriations Committee for ap- Proval of funds in order to get work started in the Florida Park. McKay advised the Florida Sena- tors that the following road items are included in his request: 1, Route 1 from Flamingo north- erly including a bridge over the Coot Bay — Flamingo Canal, grad- ing and bituminous base — $530,- 400. 5 2. Park Highway — Route 1, (Continued on Page Eight) ) WILL BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME WITH REALOCK REALL. WIRE Fittings ‘tite a8 $18 me. CROWN St. (Showroom) For FREE Estimate 2-2545 - Weekdays 8 te 8 — Sun. 2 te § FENCE CO.§ Ph. 84-0651 on Roosevelt Boulevard, is an example of what the air age means to the Florida Keys. Kozak owns a 2-seater, Aeronca Champion airplane and uses it to travel back and forth between his Miami businesses and Key West. The trip usually takes approxi- mately one hour and twenty min- utes. “Flying to and from Key West provides perfect relaxation,” says Kozak. The new Howard Johnson store is being managed’ locally by Ray Noble. Assistant manager, Fred Brennan. The business will employ thirty-three people and has a seat- ing capacity for seventy-seven pa- trons. Kozak, who also manages eleven Howard Johnson stores in the Mi- ami area, says that the new Key West place will probably be open for business Monday evening and will have an “‘official opening” Tuesday. Prices in Key West will be the same as in Jacksonville, Miami, or Savannah. Since World War II, the U. §. Steel industry has spent $5,600,000,- 000 on a 35 per cent expansion of its capacity. Now Open Joe’s Blacksmith Shop Outside Welding - Machine Works All Work Guaranteed PHONE 2-5658 614 Front Street Page 6 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Saturday, June 12, 1954 Building Permit Given For Low Cost Housing Repairs Study Slated To Determine Cause Of Bad Ceilings There Repair work on badly deterior- ated ceilings in some of the city’s low rent housing units will begin shortly, it has been announced. The Collie Clark Co., Miami, took out a building permit this week amounting to $20,700 for repairs to ceilings in the George Allen Apart- ments, First and George Streets. The work is being done in an ef- fort to correct a situation which is currently the cause of a contro- versy: between the Key West Hous- ing Authority and Joseph E. Mo- retti, Inc., Miami contractors for the project. The housing authority has charg- ed that there is a possibility that an inferior grade of cement was used in the construction, resulting in deterioration of the concrete slab ceilings. The housing authority passed al resolution June 2 authorizing an engineering study of the units, pre- liminary to a possible lawsuit against Moretti if negligence is found. They pointed out at the meeting, however, that they are not making any accusations until they view the results of the study. ‘The Collie Clark Company is us- ing a relatively new method of cement repairing called the “gun- ite method.” The cement under this method is forced into shape under high pressure and is run through a hose. The repairs are being done to but one building to determine what the cost might be to repair all of the faulty units. Other building permits issued this week in the office of Building Inspector Ray Knopp, include: John Teel, 1711 Von Phister, room addition, $600. Armando Fernandez, 627 Duval St., repairs, $1,000. James Taylor, 1405 Grinnell St., concrete block fence, $200. Bob Taylor, 1313 Johnson St., al- terations, $4,500. Sophie Mather, 725 Whitmarsh Lane, repairs, $500. Jose Pena, 1725 Laird St., apart- ment, $4,800. Jose Pena, 1725 Laird St. CBS residence, $8,000. Golden Nugget Bar, 631 Duval St., air conditioning, $2,200. Louis Bancells, 1120 Grinnell St., room addition, $500. O. J. Sheppard, 1225 Petronia St., room addition, $1,500. D. Me Jeffrey, 1309 Truman Ave., general repairs, $1,000. Annie Laurie, 1123 Thomas St., roofing, $150. Mr. and Mrs. Gus Disdier, 1622 | $800. Johnson St., CBS residence, $8,000. Ist Presbytreian Plans Extensive Building Program The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church has voted to purchase ‘a lot at the corner of White and Laird Streets as the first step in the long range expan- sion program, it has been an- nounced. The lot measures 125 by 286 feet, with the longer frontage on White Street. Present plans call for the construction of a building to be used for worship and educa- tional purposes. Detailed plans will be made by a building com- mittee set up by Fred Miller, chairman of the Board of Deacons of the church. The committee con- sists of Joseph Bringman and Dr. Harold Campbell, co-chairmen; Donald Myers, Edgar Stark, Mrs, Bernie C. Papy, Mrs. James Ster- ling, Fred Miller and the Rev. Richard E. Coulter. They will hold their initial mecting next Tuesday evening in the church social hall. “The congregation has been fac- ed with the necessity for expand- ing for some time and it was the considered opinion of the Deacons and Trustees that the entire church plant be re-located,” Rev. Coulter commented. ROBERTS Office Equipment 1% Duvai Street Phone 2-5634 Royal Typewriters Portables and Standards SALES - SERVICE _ RENTALS ee ____——_] Shrimp Industry Attracts Much Business To K.W. Key West's “pink gold” is at- tracting more than just shrimp boats. Evidence of this may be seen by the number of new shops and businesses. opening along the waterfront. For instance, Joe Van Rom- Paey, his son Frank, and his son-in-law Ray Vaughn, have opened up a new blacksmith and welding shop on Front St., off of the A & B parking lot. A former resident of Bruns- wick, Ga., Van Rompaey was attracted to Key West by an- other son, Jack, who is a shrimper. * Van Rompaey has been in the blacksmithing business. for forty-five years. He expects to do general machine work here but will emphasize the making of “doors” for shrimp boats. “Doors” are equipment used by shimpers to drag the ocean bottom while netting a catch. What is ‘dragged up’ ranges anywhere from shrimp to skel- etons, torpedoes, and sunken treasure items. Boulevard Sale Tops Warranty Deeds For Week The sale of a 1300 foot of land along Roosevelt Boulevard to a Miami Beach real estate develop- er for a total price of $192,000 was the largest warranty deed filed in the office of County Clerk Earl Adams this week. The land was sqld to Ben Mar- den, Miami Beach, by Bayview Enterprises, and Howard Wilson and Claude Gandolfo. Plans call for the erection of a huge modern shopping center there. Other deeds filed: A parcel of land in Riviera Vil- lage, Key Largo, was sold to Carle- ton F. Adams by J. J. Sarney for a price of $35,000. Irvin F. Nolte purchased land on the Island of Key West from Rich- ard Lee Horton for a price of $7,- 800. Six lots on Key Largo were bought from the Key Largo Park; | Inc. by Irving Leder, Miami, for $3,300. Milton 0. Peacock sold A. C. Rogers land on Plantation Key for Two Key Largo Park, Inc. lots were purchased by Marvin Mon- dres for $600. DO. . . attach the molded rub- ber backing pad only after the | electric drill has been disconnect- ed. DO. . . thread the backing pad into the spindle by hand and not by running the motor. DO. . . tie the drawstrings of the lambswool bonnet under the rubber paid to prevent them from whirling while the drill is operat- ing. DO. . . grasp the control handle firmly and operate the unit freely without force effort or unnecessary pressure. DO. . . use a long sweeping mo- tion back and forth, advancing a- long the surface to produce the smoothest finish and highest lus- tre. bere tae DON’T. . . press the trigger until you are certain that the po- lishing bonnet is free to revolve. DON’T . . . begin polishing any surface until you are absolutely A 9x12’ FLOOR ~ Use a sweeping motion. sure that is free of all dirt uc other foreign substances. DON’T. . . neglect the advantage of using the polisher to shine your automobile after the wax has been Applied. | _ DON’T. . . use the polishing bon- net to remove the “orange peel” effect from painted surfaces, as there are special pile fabrics pads for this purpose. DON’T. . . throw away the bon- net when it becomes dirty, since the limbswool front can be clean- ed with water and then spun dry in the drill. Yes, it's so easy to install your own floor tiling that even the lady of the house can do it! IN PLASTIC TILE only $24.30 And we have all types of tile, linoleum and trim for her to choose from: asphalt, cork, plastic and rubber tile; felt base linoleums, inlay and battleship linoleum; plastic wall tiles; sink rims; Formica; all types of aluminum trim. We Supply. The Materials... You Install Them Key West Floor Covering Co. M.E. STUTZ : 182 Duval St. Tel, 2-2512 SELECTED HAND-SANDED GENUINE PHILIPPINE RATTAN! IN TROPICAL WHEAT TONE FINISH Today’s rattan is so smart and geod looking that you use it ANYWHERE ... indoors or out. Sectional Sofas Big Lounge Chairs Small Side Chairs Foam Rubber or Spring Seat Construction, Beautiful Selection of Fabrics Corner, Endand _. Coffee Tables with Light or Dark S. R. SILBER MAN—Owner 0. Awnings - Jalousies - Windows - Doors - Lawn and Patio Furniture 716 Duval Street Telephone 2-5531