top of page


August 23
1940 – Mabel McKinney sold her Key Largo property fronting the highway and known as “Mabel’s Place” for $1500 to A.K. Gray of Miami.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 22, 20252 min read


August 17
2010 – The Key West City Commission voted 5-2 to include a referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether the city should acquire the Glynn Archer school building for use as a City Hall.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 16, 20252 min read


August 9
1950 – Thousands of fish were found in Key West streets after a heavy rain. One theory was that a large waterspout carried the fish ashore, an idea supported by the fact that most of the fish were mullet, which swim on the surface. Others insisted it had rained fish. One man even said he saw a full-grown sponge fall from the sky.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 8, 20252 min read


August 7
1956 – The Florida Keys Gas Company held an open house at its new headquarters building at the corner of Catherine and William streets in Key West. Mr. Lonnie Williams was the local manager of the operation.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 6, 20252 min read


August 2
1983 – Monroe County Commissioner Alison Fahrer’s one-vote election victory on November 2, 1982, challenged by losing contender Henry L. Rosenthal Jr., was affirmed by Chief Circuit Judge M. Ignatius Lester.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 1, 20252 min read


July 30
1857 – The schooner Joseph Crandall of Massachusetts arrived at Key West with 125,000 bricks for the construction of Fort Taylor.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 29, 20251 min read


June 5
1957 – A Pan American Airways flag that flew over the airline’s first facility at Key West was presented to the Monroe County Commission by James A. Robbins of Clearwater, who had kept the banner for almost 30 years. The commissioners voted to ask the Pan American company to display it at their new offices.

Monroe County Public Library
Jun 4, 20252 min read


May 10
1954 – Taxi drivers from two cab companies petitioned the Key West City Commission for exclusive rights to their traditional stand on Duval Street near Greene. They said outside drivers were moving in, which was creating crowding and a traffic hazard.

Florida Keys History Center
May 9, 20252 min read


April 27
1956 – Monroe County Commissioner Harry Harris announced that plans for U.S. 1 to bypass Boca Chica Naval Air Station were sent to the Florida Road Department for final approval. At the time, the highway cut through the air station, which was creating problems for both the Navy and civilians. The new bypass would skirt around the base on the Gulf side.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 26, 20252 min read


April 21
1980 – The Key West fishing boats Dos Hermanos and Blanche III arrived in Key West with 48 Cuban refugees, which began the Mariel Boatlift.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 20, 20252 min read


April 8
1970 – After 75 years of operation, the storm warning station at Lumley & Roberts Hardware Store was removed.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 7, 20252 min read


March 29
1975 - The new East and West Wings of the Monroe County Public Library at 700 Fleming Street in Key West were dedicated.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 28, 20252 min read


March 13
956 – The Cuban ferry, the City of Havana, sailed for the first time from the new terminal on Stock Island.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 12, 20251 min read


February 3
1975 – Key West Police arrested the owner of Uncle Sam’s Pawn Shop and Howie’s Lounge.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 3, 20252 min read


January 29
1930 – The Key West Chamber of Commerce had requested use of a U.S. government airplane to help eradicate mosquitoes.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 29, 20252 min read


January 9
1946 – The U.S. Navy announced that a submarine squadron consisting of one tender and 10 submarines would be based in Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 9, 20251 min read


January 4
1989 – Monroe County Commissioners voted to purchase Key West’s Truman School for $937,000 for use as county offices.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 4, 20252 min read


January 1
1925 – For the second year, a seasonal visitor information bureau was opened at the Key West railroad terminal.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 1, 20252 min read
News
bottom of page

