Key West Legend Edith Amsterdam Of Curry Mansion Inn, Dies Aged 91

By Terry Schmida

Key West has lost another of its larger-than-life characters.
Edith Amsterdam, best known for her family’s long-time ownership of Amsterdam’s Curry Mansion Inn on Caroline Street, died Friday at the age of 91.
A regular visitor to the Southernmost City since the 1960s, Edith and her husband Al purchased the run-down building once owned by Florida’s first millionaire, William Curry, in 1975. Over time, the Amsterdams renovated and expanded the property, eventually turning it into one of Key West’s premiere bed and breakfast inns.
Without realizing it, the Amsterdams had arrived in Key West just in time for the 1970s and ’80s renaissance of the town, which saw numerous other aging properties turned into stately guesthouses, and the beginning of the modern day tourist boom.
At first, Edith and Al kept the faded mansion as a private home, before increasing property taxes motivated them to surf the B & B wave rising around them.
During her time in Key West, New York State native Amsterdam became well-known for her many philanthropic endeavors, which included providing the Curry Mansion to the Wesley House for its annual Valentine’s Day Gala, since the early 1980s.
Other causes which received Amsterdam’s generosity included the Conch Republic Foster Children’s Fund, and the Womankind health clinic.
Known for her many flamboyant hats, and genteel manner, Amsterdam was a recipient of the Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year award. She took part in many of Key West’s fun-loving activities, such as Fantasy Fest, and the drag queen bed races down Duval Street.
Though surrounded by the elegance of her famed property, and many prominent Key West friends, Amsterdam was known for her fondness for the unpretentious simplicity of a good hot dog.
Amsterdam maintained a large property in upstate New York with Al, who died in 2001.
No memorial service had been planned at press time, but family members have asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Amsterdam’s name, to the Conch Republic Children’s Fund.
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]