I have been to the Bonnet House twice now https://www.bonnethouse.org/ If someone wanted me to go along with them again, they wouldn’t have to twist my arm to convince me. It is not only the historical and beautiful home that I love visiting Equally important is the family, all those characters with their own unique contributions. All together they created The Bonnet House and its incredible story.
It starts with Hugh Taylor Birch, a Chicago resident who, among other things, was a real estate investor. He arrived in South Florida and began to purchase hundreds of acres of South Florida oceanfront land. This was in the late years of the 19th Century. So imagine. Where there are now row upon row of high buildings stacked together, green acres once faced the ocean. (I felt, as I was walking through those green spaces, that we have at least a glimpse of what this area once was.)
When Hugh Taylor Birch’s daughter Helen married Frederick Bartlett, Mr. Birch gave them 35 acres of the land he purchased as a wedding present. Frederick Bartlett had a love of architecture and the decorative arts. He, along with his equally talented wives, brought together the artistic winter retreat that is still known as the Bonnet House.
On the opposite side of Sunset Blvd. from the Bonnet House is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park https://www.floridastateparks.org/HughTaylorBirch. This is another piece of fortunate wilderness (well, somewhat wild), that we still have today.
Welcome to the Bonnet House
Someone will be there to welcome you when you arrive. They will take you to the side of the house which were originally the guests rooms and give you some historic background. Enter and enjoy the paintings of Frederick Bartlett and more. His three wives were all a combination of art, music and writing. so some of their paintings are here, also. There is a film you can view here about the history of the Bonnet House. So you can better understand everything you will be visiting. It’s short. It’s well done.
The Whimsical
This is where I spent a lot of my time. The inner courtyard, and walks around the inside veranda. So much to see!
The Studio
You can enter the studio through a door off the veranda. It is good to be with a guide as there is so much to know. The portraits above, for example, were done by Frederick Bartlett at the time he entered to study art in Munich as a young man. His wife, Helen, also painted in the studio and was in exhibitions throughout the country.
The Kitchen
I loved the old Portuguese tiles that were collected and frame the door from the dining room looking toward the kitchen.
The Drawing Room
There is a story about the columns. Originally, there was one solid column. But since there was only one, it was cut down the middle to frame the door. Left of the door is a painting of Frederick’s son. Right to the door is a painting of his servant that would go fishing with him.
The Music Room
The music room. A nice space to retreat into. You’ll will find a grand piano that was frequently played by his wife Helen.
The Greenhouse
And Tropical Serenity
You are free to walk the grounds of the estate. Bring a picnic. There is a nice open picnic area under trees. Or you can eat at the little coffee shop there. It was nice to be able to walk around the more secluded areas where I took these photos. The house is not far from the ocean and the bustle of the crowds. But I was in no way aware of it walking in the quiet and serenity of the trees.
So there it is. A brief description of The Bonnet House and its heroes. If you happen to be cruising under the Sunset Bridge in the Intercoastal waters you can see a stretch of dense green trees and know you are passing by the property of the Bonnet House. You get a and get a sense of the green density and wonderful seclusion. And as a last note: Are you wondering as I did why it is called the Bonnet House? It is after the little lilies, looking like bonnets on the heads of the gators that float in the lakes by the house.
