December 23

José Martí speaking to Key Westers from the house at 1125 Duval Street.

1870 – The Douglass School, designated for Key West’s African American children, was located on Thomas Street behind the Monroe County Courthouse.

1891 – José Martí, the leading Cuban independence advocate, arrived at Key West from Tampa for his first visit to the island. He rallied Key West’s Cuban exile community to support the overthrow of Spanish rule over their island nation.

1925 – A group of 630 passengers, one of the largest to ever sail from Key West, left from the P&O Dock on the steamer Northland bound for Havana.

1935 – The Key West Community Christmas tree was lit in Bayview Park, and toys, which had been collected for weeks by employees of the Works Progress Administration, were distributed by Santa Claus to the children in attendance.

1976 – The last cases were tried in the Key West Municipal Court. Judge Hugh Papy presided over the final cases, which after the first of the year would be assigned to the county court.

1986 – Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Mary Brown resigned one month after she was re-elected to the office. Peter Ilchuk was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy.

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

Image: José Martí speaking to Key Westers from the house at 1125 Duval Street. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.