December 6

Actress and singer Ethel Waters with a band (John Pritchard on piano) in Key West during the filming of Carib Gold, 1955.

1831 – The 230 Irish canal workers rescued from the wreck of the ship Maria at Carysfort Reef, who had caused much unwanted excitement at Key West, left the island on another ship to continue their voyage to New Orleans.

1908 – The Tampa baseball team lost every game it had played during the week against the Key West players. The Key West club was worried, though, because attendance had been poor, and they feared there might not be enough money to pay Tampa’s guaranteed appearance fee.

1925 – The steamship Northland arrived at Key West from Boston to begin regularly scheduled service between Key West and Havana. The Northland could carry 675 passengers.

1947 – President Harry Truman interrupted his Key West vacation to go to Everglades City to dedicate Everglades National Park. After the ceremony, he returned to Key West and continued his vacation.

1955 – Filming of the movie “Carib Gold” began in Key West. The film, which told the tale of shrimpers discovering a sunken treasure, featured a largely Black cast, including actors Ethel Waters, Coley Wallace, and Cicely Tyson.

1960 – The Navy announced that the Blue Angels, the world-famed precision flying team, would return in January for their six-week winter training schedule.

1985 – Though only half the guest rooms were ready for occupancy, the controversial and much-contested Reach Resort hotel opened for business at the Atlantic end of Simonton Street in Key West.

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

Image: Actress and singer Ethel Waters with a band (John Pritchard on piano) in Key West during the filming of Carib Gold, 1955. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.