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November 15
1921 – Capt. John W. Pierce retired after serving 62 years as a coast and bar pilot at Key West, where he was generally considered the dean of pilots between Hampton Roads and Pensacola. Pierce was born on the island in 1839, to parents who had emigrated from Bermuda.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 142 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 262 min read


June 16
1935 – Emory Lowe Pierce, Jr. was appointed superintendent of the Key West Tropical Aquarium. Pierce, a Key West native, had graduated from the University of Florida a week earlier with a degree in marine biology.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 151 min read


June 9
1961 – Three of the Navy’s newest jet-propelled helicopters arrived at NAS Key West. The Sikorsky model HSS-2 helicopters were designed for anti-submarine warfare and could reach a top speed of over 190 m.p.h. Seven more of the cutting-edge craft were expected to arrive at the base over the next week.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 81 min read


June 2
1958 – Over 300 members of the Outdoor Writers Association of America were holding their annual convention at Key Colony Beach. The group participated in laying the cornerstone of the new Key Colony Beach Convention Center.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 11 min read


March 5
1985 – Outraged Key Westers fumed at city commissioners, who were considering plans for a sewage treatment plant near Fort Taylor.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 41 min read


January 31
1925 – At midnight, the U.S. Weather Bureau station at Sand Key was closed.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 301 min read
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