August 31

Postcard showing two views from inside a cigar factory, ca. 1916.

1875 – Monroe County Commissioners authorized Sheriff James A. Roberts to incarcerate City of Key West prisoners in the county jail provided he collect “50 cents for each prisoner locked up and 50 cents a day for maintenance same to be collected from the city in cash.”

1918 – The Key West Citizen noted that “Quietude prevailed upon the county road last night and searchlights failed to reveal the usual number of ‘romantic’ scenes. The sheriff, his force, and the police are to blame for this.”

1919 – A general strike was called by 3,000 Key West cigarmakers and tobacco workers. The laborers were demanding wage increases comparable to those paid in Tampa.

1945 – Station owner John Spottswood announced that Key West radio station WKWF was now with the Mutual Broadcasting System, which would make many popular national programs such as Gabriel Heatter’s commentary and the World Series available to listeners in the Keys.

1953 – The Florida State Board of Conservation reported that 11,463,661 pounds of shrimp were caught in the Tortugas beds in 1952. This was a decrease from the 19,246,367 pounds caught in 1951.

1976 – Pantry Pride Super Market at Key Plaza Shopping Center held its grand opening.

2000 – The Buquebus ferry company of Argentina announced they would be handing off the unfinished Key West Ferry terminal at the end of Grinnell Street to another company. Buquebus had planned to develop a ferry service between Key West and Fort Myers but was suffering financial difficulties.

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

Image: Postcard showing two views from inside a cigar factory, ca. 1916. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.