December 24

Key West Woman's Club officers 1929-30. L to R front Mrs. John Leach, Mrs. Norberg Thompson, Mrs. Andrew Miller, Mrs. A D. Leuthi, Mrs. William H. White, back row Mrs. Mercedes (Hugh) Raylor, Minnie Porter Harris, Mrs. William R. Warren and Mrs. William V. Millington.

1826 – The ship Edward, bound for New Orleans, saw a schooner displaying a signal of distress ashore at Looe Key. After approaching the islet, they found a group of men there, many of whom said they were from Key West and employed to work on the island. Those from the wrecked schooner asked for passage.

1925 – Businessman and philanthropist Col. Robert M. Thompson arrived at Key West on his yacht Everglades. Thompson was a member of the Overseas Highway Association, and he pledged his support for all measures that would benefit the roadway.

1930 - The Key West Woman’s Club, the Salvation Army, and the U.S. Army distributed 291 Christmas dinners to the poor of the city.

1936 – Peña’s Garden of Roses held its grand opening. It was located on an alley off Thomas Street behind the Monroe County Courthouse. It became Key West’s favored “watering hole” in the days before World War II. When the Navy took over the area during the war, the building was destroyed to make room for military buildings.

1940 – The Navy Department authorized the construction of a wood-frame sound school building at the Key West submarine base, as sonar training was a growing field for the island facility. Two large oil and diesel tanks for refueling vessels were also authorized.

1949 – The Blackout Restaurant at 919 Simonton Street in Key West was serving a special “Noche Buena” Christmas Eve dinner of roast pork with black beans and rice for $1.25.

2010 – The over 500 residents who used the bocce courts at McCoy Indigenous Park in Key West were asking the city to upgrade the facility with new walkways, shade structures, and improved accessibility for handicapped players.

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

Image: Key West Woman's Club officers 1929-30. L to R front Mrs. John Leach, Mrs. Norberg Thompson, Mrs. Andrew Miller, Mrs. A D. Leuthi, Mrs. William H. White, back row Mrs. Mercedes (Hugh) Raylor, Minnie Porter Harris, Mrs. William R. Warren and Mrs. William V. Millington. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.