August 19

1900 – Monroe County members of the bar of met in the United States courtroom for the purpose of organizing a bar association. Judge L.W. Bethel was elected permanent chairman and Julius Otto secretary. Messrs. W. Hunt Harris and Julius Otto were appointed a committee to draw up the constitution and by-laws of the association.

1908 – The Key West Citizen advocated for increased protection of sea turtle eggs in Monroe County: “If all of the eggs laid on the beaches in this county are allowed to hatch out, in two or three years these waters will be filled with young turtle,” the statement said.

1916 – At a meeting of the Key West Athletic Club it was decided to make Labor Day a gala occasion featuring an athletic meet and a bazaar “with many novel and interesting means of amusement.” A grand ball would cap off the evening.

1934 – At the initial meeting of the Advisory Park and Beautification Board, Mr. J.G. Curtis spoke of the possibility of establishing a botanical garden in Key West.

1952 – The official population of Key West was 26,433, which did not include the estimated 12,000 Navy personnel and dependents.

1959 – A “waterborne commerce” report showed commercial cargo tonnage coming through the Port of Key West had increased 20 percent year over year: Gross tonnage for 1958 was 186,286 compared to 149,607 for 1957.

1975 – Six hundred people were employed in manufacturing in Key West. A partial breakdown showed 23.7% in textile and clothing production; 21% in stone, clay, glass, and concrete products; 15.8% in printing and publishing; 8.3% in making durable goods; 3.5% in chemicals; and 3.2% in non-durable goods.

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

Image: Outside the Kino Shoe Factory in Key West, 1970s. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.