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September 19
1958 – The submarine USS Grenadier (SS-525) arrived at Key West, the last of five to reach the Naval Station in the past two months. The others were the Spikefish (SS-404), Bergall (SS-320), Atule (SS-403) and Tirante (SS-420). Over 400 men were attached to the five subs, roughly half of whom had families they planned to bring to the island.

Florida Keys History Center
2 days ago2 min read


August 13
1961 – Steel support beams, each 40 feet long and weighing 6,000 pounds, were placed atop the new Scottish Rite Temple at Eaton and Simonton streets in Key West to allow for another floor for the building.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 122 min read


August 3
1995 – Fire destroyed the Copa nightclub and adjoining buildings in the 600 block of Duval Street. It was the worst fire in Key West in 72 years.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 21 min read


July 26
1951 – The Key West Police Department announced the start of a drive to rid bars of underage customers. The task was made difficult because over 2,000 Navy men in the area were under 21, but police said the crackdown would affect all minors, whether they were in uniform or not.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 252 min read


July 18
2006 – The City of Key West approved developer Pritam Singh’s plan to transform the Hampton Inn on North Roosevelt Boulevard into 74 “Keys-style” condominiums that owners could rent to tourists as de facto hotel rooms. The units would not be eligible for homestead status.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 172 min read


July 2
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.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 12 min read


May 29
1962 – A team from the Florida Road Department was in Key West to survey for the possibility of constructing a bridge across Garrison Bight. The proposed bridge, running from somewhere between First and Fifth Streets and connecting to Palm Avenue, would ease traffic congestion and provide a base for a new marina.

Florida Keys History Center
May 282 min read


May 12
1929 – Work commenced on a new Standard Oil Co. gasoline filling station at 829 Fleming Street, on the corner of Margaret, in Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
May 112 min read


April 7
1986 – Monroe County Commissioners wanted to get rid of the Boot Key Bridge, which cost taxpayers thousands of dollars a year to maintain and operate, just so vehicles could access a radio station and trap factory on the otherwise empty island. The bridge tender testified that the bridge had to be opened for boat traffic 1429 times over the previous two months.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 62 min read


March 29
1955 – Albert Bosa revived the Key West Comparsa dancers. They held rehearsals at the Cuban Club.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 282 min read


March 2
1946 – Two hundred eighty automobiles were inspected by Key West City Mechanic Horace Averette, who tested their brakes, horns, and lights as mandated by city ordinance.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 22 min read


February 8
1946 – Key West City Manager Dave King explained the reasons for recent bar raids on the island: The serving of alcohol past midnight; minors working and drinking in the bars; and fights and the use of profane language by patrons.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 82 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


November 30
2000 – Key West artist George Carey unveiled his latest work, a 10-foot brass sculpture of a manatee in front of the First State Bank building on North Roosevelt Boulevard. Carey’s work was commissioned by the bank as part of the local Art in Public Places program.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 30, 20251 min read


November 21
1960 – The East Martello Tower Museum opened a new exhibit called “The Playhouse,” which featured toys housed in the first playhouse built in Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 21, 20251 min read


November 18
1918 – The Florida East Coast Hotel system announced that, with the end of World War I, the U.S. War Department had released the men and material necessary for the company to resume construction on the Casa Marina Hotel.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 18, 20252 min read


October 17
1975 – City of Key West officials met with members of the Old Island Restoration Commission, and all agreed to an ordinance that would give the OIRC jurisdiction over the construction, repair, or alteration of structures in the city’s historic district.

Keys History Center
Oct 16, 20252 min read


September 19
1993 – Earl Adams died at age 90. He served on the Key West City Commission and was Monroe County Clerk of Court from 1949 to 1973. He was also a reporter for the Miami Herald and Key West Citizen and wrote a long-running Key West History column for the Citizen.

Florida Keys History Center
Sep 18, 20252 min read


September 12
1906 – Barrooms were of much discussion in Key West. The city council had recently passed an ordinance prohibiting women from entering bars and from anyone dancing therein; the liquor association planned to appeal it as unconstitutional. Local ministers were asking that bars be prohibited within 400 feet of churches or schools.

Florida Keys History Center
Sep 11, 20252 min read


August 27
1945 – Blas Zarate of the White Inn on Division Street (now Truman Avenue) in Key West was arrested for selling beer on a Sunday, and customer Harvey Stirrup was charged with consuming beer on Sunday. The men were given bonds of $250 and $25, respectively.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 26, 20252 min read
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