Bonnet House

The folks have been debating going to the Bonnet House.  The Bonnet House is a house designed by Frederic Clay Bartlett, an American artist from Chicago.  It is ranked high on the list of things to do in Fort Lauderdale.  The folks did not know how interesting it really would be and the cost is $20 a person.  Everything seems to cost $20 or more a person here.   Mama noticed that on Father's Day that fathers get in free, so they decided to see if Dad would get in free.  Yep, they didn't even ask if Dad was a father.

Construction began on the house in 1920 and took nearly 20 years to complete. The land was given to Frederic by his father-in-law, but then his wife died in 1925.  In 1931, he married Evelyn Fortune Lilly.  She lived to be 109.  Her last visit to the house was in 1995 at the age of 107.

Bonnet House

The inside of the house is probably not what you would expect.  The house has a courtyard in the middle.  You must go outside to enter each room.  Unfortunately, indoor photography is not allowed.  Mama was able to take photos in the courtyard. Everything in the house and on the outside is how the couple left it.  However, the TV and microwave that Evelyn used were removed to take the house back to the 30's and 40's era.

Door to the house and the tour guide.

Entering the courtyard.

Fountain in the center of the courtyard.

Outside of house in the courtyard.

Evelyn collected wooden animals.

Painting by Frederic

Flowers

Shell work done by Frederic

Ceiling in part of the courtyard.  Painted by Frederic and Evelyn.

 The inside is not glamorous, but it is nice.  The couple liked to relax here and had other homes.  They only came here in the winter.

Frederic had a stroke after being on his knees for days painting a floor at the age of 77.  Mama said it was sad standing on his last piece of work and knowing that he was unable to speak or paint for the last three years of his life.

Desert plants

There were always two swans that lived here.

Lots of these guys running around.

Orchid House

Path to the beach.  When the house was built, there were no trees blocking the view of the beach.

Mama said that there is a video of Evelyn talking about the home and she is 100 at the time.  She looked like she was maybe 80.

Mama was surprised to learn that Ali Wentworth, wife of George Stephanopoulos, is the great, great grand-daughter of Frederic. That is what the tour guide said, but we couldn't find anything on the Internet to back that up.  Mama thinks Ali is a hoot.

The folks enjoyed the tour and were very happy that it was only $20 instead of the normal $40.  Mama says it was worth $20, but not so sure about the $40. 

Joey,
The Greyhound Who Thinks That $20 That Dad Saved Should Be Spent On Him And No Dad, The Food You Bought Me Yesterday Does Not Count