December 21

The Cortez Cigar Factory in the 100 block of Ann Street, Key West, ca. 1920.

1912 – President William H. Taft arrived at Key West by train and after touring the city and attending a luncheon in his honor, he sailed on a Navy ship to Panama to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal.

1925 – Contractor E.W. Priest had teams working to resurface and oil 30 miles of road on Key Largo. Three crews were working around the clock in eight-hour shifts, and a 60-foot right-of-way had been cleared to Angler’s Park.

1935 – The Cortez Cigar Co. building on Ann Street in Key West was destroyed by fire. The first alarm sounded at 10 a.m. and all the city’s firefighters arrived to battle the blaze, but the flames spread too quickly to be contained. Chief Harry Baker thought the fire was set intentionally.

1955 – A theft ring stealing government property from the Key West Naval Station was broken with the arrest of 18 men – nine civilians and nine Navy personnel, including a lieutenant. The group was accused of stealing $10,000 worth of tools, clothing, shoes, toasters, and refrigerators.

1960 – A Santa Claus photo booth was set up at Neisner’s store on North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West for children wishing to have their picture taken with Santa.

1975 – Key West Fragrance and Cosmetics celebrated its fourth anniversary by opening a new store and factory at Greene and Simonton streets. In four years, the company had grown from two employees – Frank Romano and Joe Liszka – to two Key West stores with 36 employees, plus 10 other shops in Florida and Haiti.

1993 – Alfred Rahming became Key West Fire Department’s first Black fire captain. Rahming had started with the department in 1974.

---

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

Image: The Cortez Cigar Factory in the 100 block of Ann Street, Key West, ca. 1920. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.