April 5
- Florida Keys History Center
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
1836 – A boat arrived at Key West from Cape Florida and reported the ship James had wrecked 40 miles north of there with 1,000 bales of cotton. Wreckers left the island immediately to begin salvage work, and it was thought they would be able to recover most of the cargo.
1876 – The second Garden Key Lighthouse built atop Fort Jefferson was lighted.
1909 – Alfredo Zayas, Vice-President of Cuba, visited Key West and was welcomed by Mayor Joseph Fogarty at a reception in the San Carlos.
1956 – A fisheries report for September 1955 was released that showed Monroe County landed the largest shrimp catch in Florida, with 844,320 pounds brought into Keys ports during the month.
1968 – The Key West City Commission by a unanimous vote appointed Winston L. James as Key West Police Chief replacing Armando Perez Jr. who resigned.
1969 – Former President Harry and Mrs. Bess Truman left Key West after a two-week visit. This was his last visit to the Keys.
1976 – Joseph “Bum” Farto, former Key West Fire Chief, failed to appear in court for the sentencing for his conviction of drug dealing. He was never seen again.
1989 – The U.S. Air Force Surveillance blimp nicknamed “Fat Albert” went down in the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest of its station on Cudjoe Key.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Cleaning shrimp in Marathon in the 1950's. Copyright Edwin O. Swift Jr. from the archives of Edwin O. Swift III. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
