1910 – A large angel made of Italian marble and set on a base of Vermont granite was erected in the Key West Cemetery to the memory of 17-year-old Gladys J. Bates, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W.L. Bates.

The movie 9 to 5 will be shown at the Key Largo Library branch on Saturday, Sept. 5 (9/5) at 11:30 a.m.

1986 – Spurred by overwhelming neighborhood opposition to the plan, the Key West City Commission denied a request for the conversion of the former St. Stephen Church building at 330 Julia Street into a restaurant.

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.

1966 – A glut of frozen stock left over from the previous season’s catch drove down the price of Florida Keys spiny lobster to 37 cents per pound on the opening day of the new season. Many crawfishermen threatened to hold off fishing until prices rose.

1926 – The new issue of the Lighthouse Service Bulletin explained how drinking water was obtained for the light stations along the Florida Reef: Rainwater that fell on the painted lighthouse structures was caught and carried by gutters and pipes to 8,000-gallon storage tanks, a method that had been practiced for nearly 75 years.

1926 – The Key West trolleys and tracks, along with their accompanying electric lines, began to be removed from city streets. The cars, because they were not of a standard gauge and were of an obsolete “open” style, would be sold for scrap.

1990 – The National Park Service wrote to Key West Mayor Tony Tarracino to express an interest in using the historic Wall & Co. Warehouse at Mallory Square as a visitor center and administrative headquarters for Fort Jefferson National Monument.

The monthly Movie Matinee at the Key West Library is at 3 pm on the first Tuesday of the month. It is free and open to the public.

As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, explore these films and books — history and historical fiction — from our collection.

Films and TV shows from the Monroe County Public Library collection, recommended by Library staff.

1907 – The Key West Chamber of Commerce voted to employ counsel to prosecute firms using “Key West” on boxes of cigars not made in the city.

1964 – “Escape From Hell Island,” a Key West-made and locally backed movie, had its world premiere at the San Carlos. The film received less than glowing reviews..

1956 – Cuban Treasurer General Plutarco Villalobo Marquez presented a marble bust of José Martí to the Key West Art & Historical Society. Mayor C.B. Harvey thanked the Cuban government in both English and Spanish for the gesture of friendship.

1855 – Ellen Mallory, a Key West resident since 1822, died on the island at the age of 64. After her husband died in 1825, leaving her alone with two young sons, she opened the island’s first boarding house, which she then ran for many years. Mallory “possessed an extraordinary fund of good sense, wit, and humor, which ever made her an agreeable companion,” said her obituary.

2011 – Concerned divers and the city of Key West began crafting a plan to stabilize two massive dish-type antennae on the wreck of the Hoyt S. Vandenberg. The 22-foot-tall, 80-ton structures were beginning to come loose, and it was feared they would fall in a storm.

1956 – The members of the First Baptist Church in Key West voted to build a new church building at their property on the corner of Eaton and Bahama streets, after the previous structure had been destroyed by fire a month earlier.

1976 – The Monroe County Courthouse in Key West was being renovated for the upcoming national Bicentennial celebration. Among the improvements were new flooring and new interior paint. A 20-by-8-foot mural depicting the history of the Keys was also being rendered by artist Paul Stevens.

1953 – The crew filming the movie “Beneath the 12 Mile Reef” arrived and took over the Casa Marina Hotel. The movie starred Terry Moore, Robert Wagner, Peter Graves, and J. Carroll Nash, who arrived with the rest of the crew. Seventy-five locals were used as extras in the film.

1912 – The new Monroe Theater at 623 Duval was screening the 1911 Irish feature “Arrah-na-pogue,” with admission at 10, 15 or 20 cents based on seating. The Airdome at 509 Duval Street in Key West was showing the 1903 film “The Great Train Robbery.” Admission was 10 cents for unlimited viewing.