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January 16
1928 – The first transoceanic airplanes in passenger service flew from Key West’s Meacham Field to Havana. The first Pan-American-operated plane carried mail and three passengers: Thomas Bryson, editor of the Citizen; Louis Bragassa, deputy collector of customs; and Albert Caviness, assistant emigration inspector. Passengers on a second plane were: Jorge Ponce, Cuban consul to Key West; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peyson of New York; and Commander John Loudon, aide to President Cool

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 152 min read


December 16
1959 – Jose Oropeza was the owner of the Square Deal Market at 829 Simonton Street.

Florida Keys History Center
Dec 15, 20252 min read


October 1
1935 – The landing barge for the Miami-Key West Airways seaplanes was moved from the railroad terminus to the yacht basin (the former Naval Station submarine basin), which was better located and better protected. It was hoped the change would foster daily round-trip flights between the two cities.

Florida Keys History Center
Sep 30, 20252 min read


September 26
1906 – John Lowe Jr. had a wholesale and retail lumber business, grocery store, ship chandlery and marine railway at the corner of Elizabeth and Greene streets.

Florida Keys History Center
Sep 25, 20252 min read


June 20
1941 – Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell, famed Key West bar operator, was stricken with a sudden illness while visiting his friend Ernest Hemingway in Cuba and died in a Havana hospital at age 51.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 19, 20251 min read


May 18
1913 – Agustin Parla Orduna, a Key West native, flew his sea plane to Cuba, becoming the second man to fly across the Florida Straits.

Florida Keys History Center
May 17, 20251 min read


May 17
1989 – Shorty’s Diner, an institution on Key West’s Duval Street since 1942, closed. A.J. Galloway, son of the founder, announced he was moving to central Florida and taking a long rest.

Florida Keys History Center
May 16, 20251 min read


May 16
1976 – The Singleton Corporation announced they had bought Sea Farms, Inc. and the Thompson & O’Neal Shrimp Company. The purchase included most of the waterfront of Key West Bight.

Florida Keys History Center
May 15, 20252 min read


March 19
1937 – The turtling schooner A.M. Adams arrived in Key West on its first voyage, delivering a cargo of 380 green sea turtles.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 18, 20251 min read


Today in Keys History – January 30
1911 – Curtiss Aircraft test pilot J.A.W. McCurdy attempted to fly from Key West to Havana but crashed just short of the goal.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 29, 20252 min read
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