1942 – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis sank the German submarine U-157 22 miles south of the Marquesas Keys by dropping seven depth charges around it. The kill was confirmed when clothing and other debris from the sub floated to the surface. The U-157 was the only U-Boat sunk in South Florida during World War II.

1959 – The Key West High School baseball team won the Class A State High School championship with a 3-to-2 victory over Milton High.

1962 – The Isaak Walton League passed a resolution at its annual convention requesting the Monroe County Commission make Pigeon Key a visitors’ center and marine nature park with facilities for educating children.

1961 – Three of the Navy’s newest jet-propelled helicopters arrived at NAS Key West. The Sikorsky model HSS-2 helicopters were designed for anti-submarine warfare and could reach a top speed of over 190 m.p.h. Seven more of the cutting-edge craft were expected to arrive at the base over the next week.

1958 – Famed band leader Guy Lombardo announced he was buying the Shamrock Restaurant and Key Colony Beach Club from Phil Sadowski. Lombardo said the Florida Keys should expect to see more of him and his band, the Royal Canadians.

1960 – Monroe County commissioners ordered staff to develop regulations for the development of new Keys subdivisions. Commissioner A. Maitland Adams noted, “Subdivision developers are providing only one foot of elevation in many cases; miles of canals are being dug without regard to general development.”

1956 – The Monroe County School Board agreed to name a new elementary school on United Street May Sands Elementary School, the new high school on Flagler Avenue Key West High School, and the junior high school going into the old high school building on White Street Memorial Junior High School.

1957 – A Pan American Airways flag that flew over the airline’s first facility at Key West was presented to the Monroe County Commission by James A. Robbins of Clearwater, who had kept the banner for almost 30 years. The commissioners voted to ask the Pan American company to display it at their new offices.

1962 – A reception was held at Truman Elementary School to honor Miss Miriam Carey, who was retiring after 43 years of teaching. The beloved Carey had taught multiple generations of Key Westers, and she was named Florida’s “Teacher of the Year” in 1960.

A diary from 1851 offers vivid descriptions and sketches from Key West at that time.

2015 – Members of the Douglass High School Class of 1965, the last to graduate from the segregated Key West school, gathered at the Marriott Beachside Resort for a 50th reunion. “It’s always a pleasure to be among people you’ve known for years and some you haven’t seen in years,” said an attendee.

1958 – Over 300 members of the Outdoor Writers Association of America were holding their annual convention at Key Colony Beach. The group participated in laying the cornerstone of the new Key Colony Beach Convention Center.

1957 – The Key West Citizen’s “newsboys,” or newspaper delivery carriers, were competing for a series of prizes. The awards would be determined by carriers’ prompt payment of bills, their acquisition of new customers, and existing customer evaluations.

1946 – The Key West Elks Lodge ordered an iron lung for donation to the city. The lung would be kept at the city hospital, though it would also be available for use elsewhere on the island.

3D printing has arrived at the Islamorada Library branch.

Getting a library card can be a useful - and money-saving! - part of your hurricane preparations.

1975 – The cruise ship Pacific Princess made its third visit to Key West in a month. Greeters presented hibiscus flowers to lady passengers as they disembarked, and tea towels from Key West Hand Print Fabrics were given to all passengers.

1975 – The Florida State Unemployment Compensation Bureau in Key West moved from 419 to 421 Caroline Street. Both addresses were within the same building.

1962 – Florida State Road Department surveyors were in Key West to examine the site for a proposed causeway to cross Garrison Bight. The span, to be built on fill from deepening the bight, would start between First and Fifth Streets on one end and join Palm Avenue at the intersection of Eisenhower Drive on the other.

1947 – The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board authorized National Airlines to provide air service between Key West and Havana.