April 20

The Key West Guard in front of the Armory building on White Street in 1907.

1826 – Wreckers brought the brig Mary into Key West after it had grounded on the reef. After six men spent three days removing 100 bales of cotton from the brig and another was put on the vessel to pilot it to Key West, the wreckers demanded a $5,000 salvage fee.

1886 – Ley Memorial Methodist Church was dedicated.

1902 – Ground was broken for the foundation of the Key West Armory, and the John Lowe sawmill was cutting timber for the building’s construction.

1927 – A large crowd welcomed General Gerardo Machado y Morles, President of Cuba, to Key West. The President arrived on the steamer Governor Cobb and was met at the pier by Mayor Lesile Curry and other officials. After a reception at the La Concha Hotel, the President and his party boarded a private train car for a trip to Washington.

1976 – Since it had become a University of Miami research station two years earlier, Pigeon Key had seen “6,000 days of person-use” by scientists from over 50 universities and colleges.

1984 – Ocean Venture 84, a large joint military exercise, began. The exercise was under the direction of the Commander U.S. Forces Caribbean, Rear Admiral Ralph R. Hedges, based in Key West. Over 2,000 of the 30,000 personnel involved in the 17-day exercise were in Key West.

1991 – After 17 straight winning seasons, Key West High School baseball coach Pedro Fraga retired.

---

Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

Image: The Key West Guard in front of the Armory building on White Street in 1907. Photo by Fred W. Hunt. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.