August 16

The east end of Key West, with the triangle entrance (top), the Biological Station and future Navy Hospital site (center), and Casa Roma (bottom) on October 8, 1941.

1842 – The United States signed a contract to build a Marine Hospital at Key West to treat merchant marine sailors. The Marine Hospital Service would eventually become the U.S. Public Health Service.

1934 – Nelson English Park at the corner of Thomas and Louisa streets in Key West was dedicated, and Samuel J. Welters was the speaker for the event. The park was named for Nelson English, who worked for the post office for more than 20 years and was Key West postmaster from 1882 to 1886.

1941 – Lt. Albert Fay, Navy Public Works Officer, announced that construction contracts had been let to two Miami firms for the construction of a new Navy hospital at the site of the former biological research station on the eastern end of Key West, adjacent to the Casa Roma.

1946 – Approval was granted for the construction of a new Junior Chamber of Commerce building on Flagler Avenue in Key West. Work on the $8,000, 36x36-foot concrete block structure of “modern design” was to start immediately.

1952 – The City of Key West announced that the Gulf Atlantic Transportation Company had accepted the city’s offer of $150,000 for the purchase of Mallory Docks. The reason for the purchase was to provide adequate docking space for the proposed Havana-Key West Ferry.

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

Image: The east end of Key West, with the triangle entrance (top), the Biological Station and future Navy Hospital site (center), and Casa Roma (bottom) on October 8, 1941. U.S. Navy photo. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.