By Beverly Citron

Bonnet House Fort Lauderdale

Tucked away behind a towering building of modern day Fort Lauderdale sits the Bonnet House. A tranquil enclave where time seems to have stood still behind the lemon colored walls. Perhaps like me you too will get a feel for how life might have been in “The Good Old Day’s” when the wealthy from the north vacationed in sunny Florida during the winter. It was a time when a light smell of linseed oil may have wafted through the air of the Bonnet House as paint was applied to canvas and masterpieces emerged.

The story of the Bonnet House is one of love and dedication to art and a respect for nature and the surrounding landscape.

In 1893 while sailing south from Titusville, Hugh Taylor Birch was blown ashore in a storm. Luckily, he landed safely in Lake Mable a basin located in a place we now know as Port Everglades. Interpreting this incident as a sign from God, Hugh purchased 3 miles of ocean front property for less than $1 per acre and set up home.

Hugh had a beautiful daughter named Helen who met a very talented artist named Frederic Clay Bartlett. Frederic was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1873 and studied art at the Royal Academy of Munich. He became an artist of national importance and later, a commissioned muralist for some of the great architects of the time giving him an opportunity to learn from them.

When Helen married Frederic in 1919, Hugh’s gift to them was a piece of his land on which to build a home and so, using his experience and knowledge Frederic designed a beautiful Caribbean Plantation styled house which he believed was far more complimentary to his sub tropical environment then the more popular Mediterranean style at that time. They named their home Bonnet House after the Bonnet Lily’s growing in their garden lake. Frederic painted while Helen composed music and together they became very respected art collectors.

Notably for their Picasso’s The Old Guitar Player and Georges Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Life was good until tragedy struck in 1925 when Helen died of cancer. Heartbroken Frederic’s visits to the house were far less frequent, too many memories perhaps.

Then in 1931 when Frederick married Evelyn Fortune Lilly the house became alive again as they renovated and added other structures. Evelyn discovered her natural talent as an artist and between the two of them they embellished the Bonnet House with decorative elements such as faux marble, shells, carved wood animals, painted whimsical characters and ceiling murals. Everywhere you look there is something interesting, thought provoking or just really funny. My favorite room in the house was the Bartlett’s art studio with it’s large window for good light and many finished and unfinished works sitting on easels giving you a feeling that someone would be back to finish them soon. I walked out to the gardens and watched as a mother Swan guided her signets down the slough through the lilies. Looking back at the house it’s not hard to imagine fun gatherings where guests were treated to the Bartlett’s special cocktail made from the Rangpur Lime tree in their garden and art being the topic of discussion.

This is a must see when visiting Fort Lauderdale as there is something special here for everyone whether you love art and antiquities or whether you enjoy plants and flowers or just need a break.

Bonnet House
900 North Birch Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304-3326
United States
Phone 1 (954) 563-5393
http://www.bonnethouse.org