1966 – The Key West Chamber of Commerce agreed to accommodate the multi-million-dollar local seafood industry by adding a board seat for a representative from the trade.

1990 – The National Park Service wrote to Key West Mayor Tony Tarracino to express an interest in using the historic Wall & Co. Warehouse at Mallory Square as a visitor center and administrative headquarters for Fort Jefferson National Monument.

1876 – The new Key West City Hall on Greene Street was dedicated by Mayor Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. The main address, “A History of Key West,” was given by Walter C. Maloney. A fire alarm sounded before he could finish speaking, and the crowd followed the firemen. Maloney’s speech was later published as “A Sketch of the History of Key West, Florida.”

1904 – Mrs. Clarence K. Till, widow of police officer Till, was presented with a deed to a house and lot bought by the citizens of Key West after her husband was killed in the line of duty.

1976 – The Key West Comparsa dancers and musicians left for St. Augustine to participate in the “Florida on Parade” Bicentennial celebration. They also planned to perform in the island’s Bicentennial parade on July 5, after their return.

1976 – Key Wester Frank Balbontin sent a painted wood carving he made of the White House to President Gerald Ford as a Bicentennial gift from the island. It had taken Balbontin six months to complete the 24x36-inch artwork.

1981 – U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles dedicated the reconditioned cutters Ute and Lipan in ceremonies at the Coast Guard Station in Key West.

Summer Reading is bringing celebrities of all kinds — and species — to our branches.

1905 – An appropriation of nearly $500,000 was authorized for improvements at the Key West Naval Station, including new buildings, an extension of the coal sheds, and the construction of a quay wall from the sheds to Fort Taylor.

1926 – After serving 29 years at the Convent of Mary Immaculate, Sister Louis Gabriel left Key West for a new assignment. Sister Louis was a much-beloved teacher, and she had taken care of injured soldiers in the Spanish-American War and established a grotto on church grounds to protect Key West from hurricanes. She said she hoped to return to the island, but the decision would be up to Mother Superior.

Fridays at 11 a.m. is Story Time at the Key West Library.

1994 – The number of Cuban refugees who successfully crossed the Florida Straits in 1994 surpassed the 3,656 who completed the journey in 1993. Authorities estimated that only 4 out of 10 who attempted the crossing were successful.

The monthly Movie Matinee at the Key West Library is at 3 pm on the first Tuesday of the month. It is free and open to the public.

1956 – With high rates of employment and with Key Westers having relatively high incomes, island businesses were going through a boom time as local retail sales for the year totaled $31,286,000, a marked increase over the $23,058,000 figure of the year before.

1976 – The General Services Administration announced it was declaring 40.47 waterfront acres of the “Harry Truman Annex” at the former Key West Naval Base as surplus property. The Little White House was exempted and was being withheld for later disposition because of its historic value.

As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, explore these films and books — history and historical fiction — from our collection.

1926 – Jumbo, a loggerhead sea turtle, celebrated his third birthday at the aquarium at the eastern end of Key West. Jumbo had been hatched in a sandbox onboard Peter Roberts’ fishing boat and then hand-raised alongside Roberts’ dock for two years, before being transferred to the aquarium because of his increasing size.

2011 – After much discussion over a development agreement, the Spottswood Cos. announced they would be redeveloping the Faro Blanco property in Marathon as a resort and marina. The resort would have 106 units, including 14 for workforce housing, and the marina would have 100 slips bayside and 100 slips oceanside.

1991 – Monroe County staff and nearly 100 volunteers collected more than 100 tons of garbage during the “Great Stock Island Clean-up.” The island had long been plagued by illegal dumping.

1976 – Key West City Commissioner and vice-mayor William Gamble died after suffering a heart attack at City Hall while preparing for a commission workshop meeting. Gamble was a Navy veteran and founder of William Gamble Jeweler at 600 Duval Street.