April 23
- Florida Keys History Center
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
1836 – It was reported that Seminole Indians had killed a Dr. Creus, the former Customs Inspector for Port Charlotte in mainland Monroe County. His replacement, Alexander Patterson of Key West, learned of the death upon arrival there.
1926 – Harold Winters, a 16-year-old drifter from Miami, was arraigned for stealing $90 from John H. Pinder’s store at Rock Harbor, Key Largo. Pinder caught the thief, and as there was no law enforcement officer there, he brought him to Sheriff Curry in Key West. Curry promptly deputized Pinder to represent the Sheriff’s office in the Upper Keys.
1946 – The Navy announced a delay in returning the Key West Aquarium to the city, as they wanted to make sure it was in the same condition as when received. The concern was in finding photographs of the WPA murals, so the artwork could be properly restored. The aquarium had been used as a rifle range during the war.
1956 – The 175 members of the Carolina Aero Club arrived at Key West in 90 airplanes. The group would celebrate with a dinner and dance at the Casa Marina before flying out in the morning for a one-day excursion to Cuba.
1976 – Steven Weed, ex-fiancé of kidnapping victim Patty Hearst, was in Key West to relax from the rigors of writing his book “My Search for Patty Hearst,” and the ensuing PR tour after its publication earlier in the year. Hearst regarded the book as a betrayal of their relationship and never spoke to Weed again.
1982 – The Florida Keys seceded from the United States in a mock ceremony to protest the Border Patrol’s establishment of a roadblock at Florida City to check the citizenship of everyone leaving Monroe County. Traffic delays caused by the roadblock had resulted in a dramatic drop in tourist traffic to the Keys. Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow announced the establishment of the new “Conch Republic,” of which he was Prime Minister.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Completed reproduction of Alfred D. Crimi mural for the Key West Aquarium, 1998. Gift of Mary Haffenreffer. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
