The Key West Citizen Newspaper, October 1, 1954, Page 8

THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Friday, October 1, 1954 G Key West Offers Museum At Martello By SUE JONES, Key West’s own museum at East Martello Gallery, on South Roose- velt Boulevard near the air port, has many things of interest to re- sidents as well as visitors. There are some very good paint- ings of Key West scenes done by artists who know and love Key West; there are relics from the battleship “‘Maine” and Dr. Mudd’s tea set. The tea set, loaned to the gal- lery by Mrs: E. L. Newton, was a family heirloom belonging to the doctor's wife. ‘ She gave it to the supervigor of Fort Jefferson who had car the doctor during his imprison-\ ment there. The museum, housed in the pre- Civil war fort, is unique in that it contains only articles from in and around Key West. Some of . these are priceless family heir- looms loaned to the museum by old Key West families. : In the past few years, the Art find Historical Society has been hard at work restoring and beau- tifying the tower and it is-now one of the most charming spots on the Island. The group has managed to mod- ernize the old structure without losing any of its unusual atmos- phere. y The name ‘Martello Tower” has long been used to designate mas- Onary forts built chiefly on sea- coasts, generally with thick walls and entrances high off the ground. Forts of this particular type were buil along the south and west shores of England and on the Eu- ropean continent as early as 1541. tor. 4 Greetings, Hospitality To American, INTERIOR OF E. MARTELLO MUSEUM—The museum is unique in that all the articles displayed are from in and around Key West. Among them are relics from the battleship “Maine.” The survivors of the disaster.in the harbor at Havana, Cuba, were brought to Key West and the injured were hospitalized at the Convent of Mary Immaculate—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. The actual construction of both - East Martello and West Martello — at the Monroe County Beach — was begin in 1861. They were designed to protect the rear of Fort Taylor and to com- bat landing forces. Neither of towers were com- pleted as modern Naval armament with exploding shells came’ into use during the War Between The States and made them obsolete. A photostat of the original en- gineer’s drawings hangs in the lob- by of the gallery. It was made from drawings still on file at thet War Department in Washington, D.C. The bricks used in the construc- tion of the forts were brought to Key West from Pensecola after it was discovered that bricks were too soft to withstand the action of salt spray and high winds. East Martello became the pro- perty of the US Navy and during World War Il, searchlight towers were erected on the old building. The Art and Historical Society has a revocable’ permit to use hte structure for an art gallery and historical museum. The Tower is closed for further “face lifting” at the present but will re-open in November, accord- ing to Jeanne Taylor, curator. By DENIS SNEIGR Ed Ciesinski came here from Chicago in 1933 and he’s been here ever since, Working under water. But even before he left Chicago, where he worked as a tool and die maker, Ed was interested in ving. “We tried it in those, days with homemade equipment, diving in a drainage canal,” he laughed. Today, Ed is rated as one of the @ountry’s top underwater men, That's not Ciesinski’s opinion of himself, northern | INSIDE GROUNDS AT EAST MARTELLO—The Art and Historical Society has landscaped the grounds inside the old fort and it is now one of the beauty spots of Key West. This picture was taken looking toward the steps leading from the lobby. The entrance to the museum and art gal- lery are to the right.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. The Sea Around Us Challenges Both For his high rating, I have the word of Ledr. Charles A. Hooper, officer in charge of the Navy’s Underwater Photo team. Hooper, himself an expert diver, insisted that'‘Ed work on Operation Flashbulb here recently. That was a joint Navy-Sylvania Electric Corp. project to photo- graph a submerged submarine at night in color, The project has been postponed because of bad weather conditions for such work. Ciesinski also has dived for two movies—“20,000 Leagues Under Congenial Club Groups Appeal To Visitors Hf you enjoy meeting a group of congenial women, Key West has much to offer the “stranger” in town, for here you can find a group to appeal to your every interest. . .and the nicest part of club “life” in Key West is that the visitor immediately finds herself a welcome guest. Where does a stranger find these clubs? Well, a number of them meet at the Woman’s Club at 319 Duval Street. The building, one of the land- marks of “old’’ Key West, also houses the Key West Library, where the visitor will find special shelves on Key West and the Flo- rida Keys, tropical plants and gar- dening and shells. Many of the outstanding person- alities who come to Key West ap- pear on Woman’s Club programs during the season, and visiting clubwomen enjoy the teas after the meetings. Younger women will also find a welcome at the meetings of the Junior Woman’s Club, the two Be- ta Sigma Phi chapters and the Jay- Shees — the wives of Junior Chamber of Commerce members. All the veterans organizations, the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs have active womens auxiliaries, and the womens groups at all Key West churches are happy to have visi- tors at their meetings. If you have a green thumb or just wish you did, drop in at a meeting of the Key West Garden Club which meets at the Woman’s Club. Garden Cluo members are walk- ing encyclopedias on the exotic native plants and flowers. And each year the Key West Flower Show under the direction of the Garden Club is an event that many tourists stay to see, and having seen one, often make it a THE KEY WEST LIBRARY—is housed in the Woman's Club building at 31 building is one of the few remaining examples of the old Key West architectu: A number of special interest shelves are available at the Ii and the Florida shelf with books on the history of Key W organizations im the city meet here.—Citizen Staff Pho: point to be in Key West for the next year’s show. The BPW also meets at the Wo- man’s Club and are delighted to have vacationing BPW’s join them at their meetings. If you want to talk “shop,” Key West BPW’s are always glad to exchange ideas. The Art and Historical Society has restored historic East Martello Towers, and it now houses many articles of interest including Dr. Mudd’s tea set and relics from the battleship “Maine.” During the season local and na- tionally-known artists have exhibi- tions at East Martello Galleries. THE BARN THEATRE—During the season, Key Westers and tourists flock to the quaint theatre to see productions like “Mr. Roberts” and “The Moon Is Blue.” The Key West Players, local little theatre group, are among the most outstanding such groups in the country and their productions are of professional calibre. “The Barn” is located in the rear of the Woman's Club building at 319 Duval Street.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. the Sea” and “Twelve Mile Reef.” But working for movie comp- anies is only a small part of Ed’s job. In his 18-foot boat he takes sportsmen spearfishing or on trips for underwater photos. He also gives Aqualung lessons and does general diving for repairs on boats. When he first hit this area in 1933, Ed made his headquarters on Stock Island. He worked as a fishing guide and rented boats. He also did UNDERWATER ENTHUSIASTS—Ed Ciesinski (left) checks gear before he and two visitors leave on a spearfishing trip. In center is Joe Thomas of Blackshear, Ga., and Hugh Brown of Bayville, Yorke @& tight—Citizen Staff Photo, Sybil, some diving, but it was skin diving in the strictest sense of the word. “We didn’t even have face masks or goggles then,” he re- called. “We would just dive and see the best we could under- water.” By 1935, Ed was making his own face masks. In those days you couldn't just walk into a Sporting goods store and buy a face mask. Such underwater gear was rela- tively unknown in the United States then. Today, you can buy face masks and flippers even in drug stores. 9 Duval Street. The re on Duval Street. library, including the Garden Club shelf fest and the Keys. Many of the women’s to, Don Pinder. The Key West Players, one of The Astronomy Club has its own the finest “little theatre” groups to be found anywhere, produce Broadway hits like “Mr. Roberts” and “Bell, Book and Candle” in the quaint little red barn theatre in the rear of the Woman’s Club. The Audubon society sponsors screen tours and birdwalks, and music lovers enjoy the Communi- ty Concert series. An active artists group has a street fair and open air show every year where you can purchase a painting of Key West by a Key West artist as a souvenir of your visit. BN ions 28 i. telescope and at times during the year, members gather to watch the Southern Cross and other tropi- cal constellations. Those who stay long enough to enroll their children in school will find PTA’s in all the public schools and the Convent of Mary Imma- culate and St. Joseph's School have a “Mothers’ Club” composed of mothers of these students. Whether you plan to stay for a short time, for the season, or as so many do — just stay — any and all of these groups extend a warm welcome to the visitor in Key West. CONFEDERATE MONUMENT—The monument located in Bay- view Park was erected in the memory of the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy by the Stephen R. Mallory Chapter 1562 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The local chapter was named for Stephen R. Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate Navy. who spent his boyhood in Key West. His mother is buried. im the old city cemetery.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder, Experts And Novices, Ciesinski Finds Just before World War II, Ed moved into Key West. Shortly after the Japs hit Pearl, Ed went to work on the Navy Base here. He got out his tools and went back to work as a toool and die maker. Since then he has been working as a diver and as a guide for underwater enthusiasts. Among the prominent persons he has taken on underwater tours was Congressman John A. Blatnik of Minnesota.. It was Blatnik’s first experience at diving on the reef off Key West and he was sold UNDERWATER WORK—EFa Ciesinski is shown above as he po- sitioned one of the underwater cameras for the movie, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.’ on it from the first moment. Ed has made black and white and color movies for Dr. A. Pilking- ton, and also has taken Dr. Richard Cunningham, of Defiance, Ohio, on underwater expeditions. Dr. Cunningham will be back the weather is good for under- water work. Ed has been a close observer spearfishing. “Already I notiee a change,” he said. “The early enthusiams for just spearfishing seems to be water photography.” Ed lives here at 504 Simonton St. with his wife, Stell, and 18- of St. Clair Shores, Mich., of the still developing sport of year-old son, Ron. Ron is almost as good an under- water man as his father. Almost —not quite. “Give him another year or so,” here soon, Ed said. As soon as changing more and more to under- Ed grins.