August 24

Rest Beach Navy housing at the south end of White Street on December 19, 1945.

1894 – The Wagner Canning Company of Key West closed its plant for the season after processing 50,000 cases of canned pineapples. The pineapples were grown on the Upper Keys and brought to Key West.

1945 – A contract was renewed for Fred Howland, Inc. to complete the construction of 155 low-cost Navy housing units at the end of White Street across from Rest Beach in Key West.

1953 – The Navy announced that of the five Navy enlisted men and one officer who were convicted or facing charges in connection with the Charity Carnival sponsored “stag show,” all the enlisted men had been cleared and the officer was given a severe reprimand and forfeiture of pay.

1975 – Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were conducting a month-long study of waterspouts in the Lower Keys. A laser-based, infrared doppler device was being used to measure the movement and speed of the waterspouts, and specially equipped aircraft were used to penetrate the spouts for additional observations.

1985 – The AIDS Education Project conducted an AIDS screening clinic in Key West. The examinations did not test for antibodies to HTLV-III (the virus suspected to cause AIDS) but instead gauged a person’s overall immune health.

1992 – Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida, causing extensive damage. The storm caused downed power lines and trees in the Upper Keys and did heavy damage in the Ocean Reef area.

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

Image: Rest Beach Navy housing at the south end of White Street on December 19, 1945. U.S. Navy photo from the Ida Woodward Barron Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.