2001 – In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a bomb threat against the federal building on Simonton Street in Key West was received by telephone. The area was cordoned off by police, and after three hours of searching the building, Navy explosive specialists determined the threat was false.

1946 – In a special meeting, Key West city commissioners authorized the purchase of the Sweeny beachfront property at the south end of Duval Street for $37,000. The property was to be used as a bathing beach and to provide recreational facilities for the city.

2001 – In an agreement with the city, house boats began leaving “Houseboat Row” along Key West’s southeastern seawall to go to Garrison Bight. Twenty-six vessels were expected to make the move, and Key West Assistant City Manager John Jones hoped to transfer one a day during September.

1936 – To generate funds for maintenance, the Key West Aquarium began charging an admission fee. The price of entry was 15 cents for adults and five cents for children.

1945 – After being briefly halted with the ending of WWII, a contract was renewed for Fred Howland, Inc. to go ahead and complete the construction of 155 low-cost Navy housing units at White Street and Atlantic Boulevard.

1955 – Key West City Manager Victor Lang proposed sand-collecting groins be built into the water to aid the new beach project along South Roosevelt Boulevard. “Once we have located the proper positions for these groins, we hope to be able to turn the sand job over to nature,” he said.

1923 – Monroe County commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of a $300,000 bond issue as a first step toward construction of a proposed “Overseas Highway” to run from the mainland to Key West.

1936 – Tarpon fishing was becoming increasingly popular in the Keys, and many were being caught around Key West. Two of the more notable catches during the past 10 days were both over 6 feet long, each weighing more than 100 pounds.

1976 – Key Wester Frank Balbontin sent a painted wood carving he made of the White House to President Gerald Ford as a Bicentennial gift from the island. It had taken Balbontin six months to complete the 24x36-inch artwork.

2001 – County-owned Higgs Beach Park needed a $2 million renovation, prompting many to wonder whether Monroe County should hold and maintain a park that is entirely within the city of Key West. Monroe County Mayor George Neugent felt the money could be better spent on recreation facilities in unincorporated areas of the county.

2011 – Key West businessman and philanthropist Frank Romano died at 88. Romano and partner Joe Liszka founded the popular Key West Aloe cosmetics company, and they were instrumental in the creation of Fantasy Fest. Romano also led the charge for a formal Keys tourism marketing program and the “bed tax” that now funds the local Tourist Development Council.

1935 – A film crew from Pathé News was in Key West to film interesting aspects of the island. On this date, they documented Raul’s Aquarium on Roosevelt Boulevard.

1976 – The long-time home of Alvin and Eva Scott at 814 Windsor Lane in Key West was destroyed by fire. Passers-by rescued the elderly couple from the burning house, with Mrs. Scott requiring particular assistance, as she was completely blind.

1976 – Windsor Village Condominiums, a one-acre tract with 11 houses and fronted by Windsor Lane, was established as a Key West literary compound. Writers John Hersey, Ralph Ellison, John Ciardi, and Richard Wilbur made the first purchases.

1960 – The formal grand opening of Bevis-Lewis Chevrolet was held in Key West. The all-in-one sales and service center for new and used cars was located at 3500 North Roosevelt Boulevard.

1961 – Stanley G. Gillette, vice-president of the Van Heusen Corporation and a prime mover in the company’s new Key West-themed men’s sportswear fashion campaign, was given the key to the city by Key West Mayor Delio Cobo.

1891 – José Martí, the leading Cuban independence advocate, arrived at Key West from Tampa for his first visit to the island. He rallied Key West’s Cuban exile community to support the overthrow of Spanish rule over their island nation.

1960 – Florida Governor LeRoy Collins dedicated and christened John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first wholly underwater park in the world. A crowd of over 1,000 attended the ceremony at Harry Harris Oceanfront Park near Tavernier.

1955 – New Jersey industrialist Stanly Switlik presented the Monroe County School Board with 30 acres of land along Marathon Beach Road for the site of a new Marathon High School. Much of the ground was wetlands that would require filling before construction of the school could begin.

1960 – A team of “petroleum technicians, tool pushers, drillers, and roughnecks” from the California Company arrived in Key West to begin drilling four 6,000-foot test wells near the Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoals.