1959 – Some 25 members of the Marathon-based Tortugas Shrimpers Association met with elected officials in Tallahassee to urge the passage of a bill that would reopen areas of the Tortugas shrimp beds that had been closed for conservation.

1956 – The First Baptist Church on Eaton Street at the corner of Bahama Street was destroyed by fire.

1939 – Construction of the cable schooner Western Union was progressing rapidly.

1956 – The M.S. Allen Funeral Home opened in a new concrete-block building at 325 Julia Street in Key West.

1940 – Key Wester William W. Demeritt was commissioned a Captain in the Coast Guard.

1999 – A group called “Citizens Coalition for the Preservation of Keys Character” was working to dissolve the new Village of Islamorada.

1946 – The U.S. Navy announced that a submarine squadron consisting of one tender and 10 submarines would be based in Key West.

1925 – The Key West sponge fleet left port for their second trip of the season to the sponging grounds near Bahia Honda.

1897 – The USS Maine fired warning shots toward schooners leaving Key West to command them to halt.

1952 – Key West musician and Army veteran Edwar Weech surprised everyone at the V.F.W. Hall by playing a Christmas night saxophone solo.

1897 – The USS Maine fired warning shots toward schooners leaving Key West to command them to halt.