Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
the house is also known as the Bartlett House,
located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, originally acquired by Hugh Taylor Birch in 1895, and then
given to his daughter, Helen and her husband, artist Frederic Clay Bartlett to be a wedding gift
for them in 1919. Frederic would have a plantation style home constructed on the property,
wintering there with his wife and child, Frederic, Jr. from a former marriage. Helen would
pass away in 1925, and Bartlett would marry Evelyn Fortune Lily, the ex-wife of Eli Lilly.
The couple would use the home for a winter retreat until Frederic passed away in 1953, and
then, Evelyn in 1997. She deeded the beautiful estate to the state of Florida in 1983, so that it would be used
as a historic house museum. While living here, Frederic would continue his artistic endeavors, while Helen would compose music and poetry.
|