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February 5
1946 – Fred Dion purchased the Stone Hotel at White and Division streets in Key West from Edward Gomez for $28,000. The building had stores on the first floor and hotel rooms and apartments on the second.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 52 min read


February 4
1908 – The first train fully equipped for carrying passengers over the Overseas Railroad left Miami for Knights Key at 11 a.m. The train, consisting of six coaches and Henry Flagler’s private car, was an official excursion and no tickets were sold for the journey.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 42 min read


February 3
1967 – Navy officials announced the “ghost town” of abandoned buildings in the 35-acre Poinciana tract between 16th and 19th streets and Duck and Donald avenues in Key West would be torn down and replaced by townhouse-style buildings to create 212 new housing units.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 32 min read


February 2
2006 – The Friends of Fort Taylor launched a membership drive to call attention to the plight of the aging 19th century Key West fortification, which had suffered considerable damage months earlier during Hurricane Wilma.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 22 min read


February 1
1960 – After the lack of a rear exit forced firemen to break through the roof of a burning Duval Street store to fight the blaze, Key West Fire Chief Charles Cremata was conducting “fine-tooth comb” inspections all buildings on Duval to ensure they had proper exits and fire escapes.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 12 min read


January 31
1926 – The Key West Realty Board heard a proposal by Hilliard Hammerschlag for a sight-seeing bus to be operated from Trumbo Island to points throughout Key West. Hammerschlag said between 200 to 600 visitors were arriving via train and steamer daily, and the proposition would be a profitable one.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 312 min read


January 30
1911 – Curtiss Aircraft test pilot J.A.W. McCurdy attempted to fly from Key West to Havana but crashed in the water shortly before reaching Cuba. He was rescued by a U.S. Navy destroyer.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 302 min read


What To Read If You Love Watching 'Bridgerton'
If you like watching the Netflix series 'Bridgerton,' you may also like reading these books from the Monroe County Public Library collection.

Monroe County Public Library
Jan 291 min read


January 29
1926 – Percy A. Cook was sales manager for the Tropical Isles Sales Corporation, a New Jersey company selling Florida Keys realty. Cook had a home on Cook’s Island, one of the Newfound Harbor Keys.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 292 min read


January 28
1979 – Acclaimed playwright and Key West resident Tennessee Williams and his friend Datson Rader were assaulted on Duval Street. Both men were punched but neither needed medical attention. Williams said of the attackers, “Maybe they weren't punks at all, but instead New York drama critics.”

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 282 min read


January 27
1949 – The Key West Army Barracks property was transferred to the Navy. The 26-acre site between White Street and Palm Avenue would be used to build the Peary Court Navy housing complex.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 272 min read


January 26
1977 – The new United States Coast Guard Station Key West at Trumbo Annex was dedicated.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 262 min read


January 25
1946 – The submarine tender USS Howard W. Gilmore arrived in Key West. The big tender was the long-running flagship for the submarine squadron assigned to Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 252 min read


January 24
1941 – Key West police were investigating the possible poisoning of two Key West women at a Duval Street bar after one drank a soft drink and the other a beer: both then becoming violently ill. Samples from the women’s stomachs were taken at the Marine Hospital for analysis. No results were reported.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 241 min read


January 23
1924 – A hunting party from Key West reported that deer were plentiful on Big Pine Key, though they were difficult to shoot. One herd of deer was observed swimming from Doctor’s Arm to No Name Key; others were thought to range as far west as Boca Chica Key.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 232 min read


January 22
1912 – Henry Flagler arrived on the first train from the mainland to Key West, officially opening the Overseas Extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad. Mr. Flagler was welcomed to Key West by Mayor J.N. Fogarty, distinguished guests, and probably the largest crowd to ever have gathered on the island.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 222 min read


January 21
1956 – Florida State Senator Wm. Neblett was calling on Keys residents to provide old maps of the Dry Tortugas. Two small islets, both known as “Sand Key,” were once visible but had since submerged; their existence needed to be proved to help the state to retain control of the area.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 212 min read


January 20
2016 – Key West City Commissioners heard debate about the best use for the band room of the former Douglass School. Members of the Douglass School Black Educators’ Memorial Project claimed it had been promised to them as a museum space, while the Monroe County Health Department wanted it for a clinic.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 202 min read


January 19
1924 – Key West’s Stephen R. Mallory Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, unveiled a monument in Bayview Park dedicated to those who served in the Confederate Army and Navy.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 192 min read


January 18
1958 – With a fare of 90 cents per passenger, the first Conch Tour Train rolled onto the streets of Key West under the ownership of Bill and Olive Kroll.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 182 min read
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