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Key West Naval
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men have commanded the Key West Naval Station or Key West Submarine Base. Many
were residents of Quarters A, later known as the Harry S. Truman Little White
House. As several of these men are mentioned in our text, this list is provided
to convey a timeline for the reader. |
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Quarters
A and B
in 1890. The seawall in front designed and built by Lt. Robert Peary,who
would later find fame in the North Pole. |
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Thomas Edison lived in Quarters A
and invented 41 weapons in World War I. |
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Commodore
David Porter 1823-1824
Various commanders 1851-1877
Lt. Comdr. J.K. Winn 1877-1883
Lt. Comdr. G.F. Wilde 1883-1885
Lt. Comdr. J. K. Winn 1885-1895
Comdr. J.M. Forsyth 1898-1899
Comdr F.P. Gilmore 1898-1899
Capt. R.E. Impey 1899-1900
Capt. J.W. Gowan 1900-1901
Comdr. A.B. Little 1901-1902
Capt. G.A. Bicknell 1902-1904
Capt. G.P. Coivocoresses 1904-1905
Capt. W.H. Boehler 1905-1910
Capt. E.E. Hayden 1910-1911 |
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Rear
Adm. Lucien Young 1911-1912
Capt. E.E. Hayden 1912-1915
Comdr. W.J. Terhune 1915-1917
Capt. F.A. Traut 1917-1919
Rear Adm. B.C. Decker 1919-1920
Capt. W.S. Crosley 1921-1923
Capt. W.D. Brotherton 1923-1923
Capt. C. D. Stearns 1923-1926
Capt. R.W. McNeely 1926-1929
Capt. R.T. Menner 1930-1932
Comdr. G.B. Hoey 1939-1940
Capt. W.F. Jacobs 1940-1941
Capt. R.E. Crenshaw 1941-1942
Capt. C.E. Reordan 1942-1946
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In 1952, the U.S.
Navy temporarily divided the Little White House into
a duplex known as Quarters A & B. The Naval Station Commander lived in
Quarters A until 1957 when the Navy converted the entire building into a
single dwelling again. The Submarine Base commander chose other quarters after 1946.
Rear Adm. I.T. Duke - 1952-1953 - On July 1, 1952, RADM Duke was named first commander
of Key West Naval Station, Key West Submarine Base and Key West Force.
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Quarters A became
the Little White House from November 1946 to March 1952 and the following Submarine
Base commanding officers lived in other quarters on base. The Key West Submarine
Base was closed March 31, 1974. Nuclear submarines were too large to use this
port.
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Rear Adm. G.C. Tower
1953-1955
Rear Adm. H.H. Henderson 1955-1956
Rear Adm. J.H. Ward 1956-1957
Rear Adm. F.D. McCorkle 1957-1959 - preserved Truman's furniture
collection & entertained former President Truman on a 1957 visit.
Rear Adm. L.M. Mustin 1959-1960 -entertained former President Truman
Admiral R.V. McElroy 1960-1963 hosted both visits by President Kennedy
Rear Adm. L. J. Kirn 1963-1964 entertained former President Truman
Rear Adm. T.A. Christopher 1964-1967 hosted Vice President Humphrey's visit
Rear Adm. F.J. Brush 1967-1969- entertained President Truman on his last visit
Rear Adm. D.F. Smith, Jr. 1970-1971
Rear Adm. John H. Mauer 1971-1974- entertained King Hussein I
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The Key West Naval
Station was formerly disestablished on March 29,
1974. The Little White House was placed in caretaker status until it, along with 43 acres of the TRuman
Naval Station was sold at public auction on September 10, 1986 to private developer Pritam Singh for
$17.25 million (this was for the entire Truman Annex Naval Station, not just the Little White House).
To guarantee its permanent protection, the Little White House was officially received by the State of
Florida on January 1, 1987 and designated a State Historic Site. Its status was later changed to a Florida
Heritage Landmark recognizing it as a site of national importance. The initial restoration was begun
in 1988 and continues to the present. |
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