December 27

Rest Beach, Key West, 1930s.

1888 – Joseph Beverly Browne died at age 74. He was born in Virginia and came to Key West in 1830. He had served as U.S. Marshal, Clerk of the U.S. Court, member of the Florida legislature, postmaster and Mayor of Key West from 1869-1871.

1925 – Internationally known travel lecturer Burton Holmes was making his way from Miami to Key West to film and take photographs along the length of the Keys.

1935 – Despite the air temperature being a chilly 52 degrees, visitors from the north enjoyed swimming in the waters off Key West’s Rest Beach.

1950 – Mr. and Mrs. James A. Lynch announced that their new El Patio motor court, hotel, and apartments at the corner of Washington and William streets were open.

1975 – Production of headless shrimp in Monroe County during November totaled 432,817 pounds. This was a decrease of 824,986 pounds from November of 1974. The catch of spiny lobster was 17 per cent lower than for November 1974.

1976 – Cecil W. Bain, respected leader of Key West’s Black community, died at Florida Keys Memorial Hospital. He was 51 years old and a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry board.

1985 – Over the 1984-1985 fiscal year, unincorporated Monroe County saw $102 million in new construction, a 6 percent increase over the previous year. The figure included 870 new single-family homes, among other types of buildings.

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

Image: Rest Beach, Key West, 1930s. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.