February 1

A Key West fire inspector examining the interior of a burned building, ca. 1960.

1830 – Dr. James Watson of New York listed the causes of the 11 deaths that occurred during his stay at Key West from September 6 to October 22, 1829: Mortification of the Arm (1), Diseased Liver and Spleen (1), Obstruction of the Bladder (1), Childbed (1), Worms (3), Casualty (1), Dropsy (1), Intemperance (1), Self-perpetrated Injudicious Treatment (1).

1935 – Maxwell Perkins, editor for Scribner’s magazine, Earl Roman, Rod and Reel editor for the Miami Herald, and Ernest Hemingway were fishing from Hemingway’s boat, and all three men caught sailfish.

1960 – After the lack of a rear exit forced firemen to break through the roof of a burning Duval Street store to fight the blaze, Key West Fire Chief Charles Cremata was conducting “fine-tooth comb” inspections all buildings on Duval to ensure they had proper exits and fire escapes.

1961 – The City of Key West agreed to lease an old warehouse near the Mallory Docks to the Key West Players theater group. The thespians were required to build a 150-seat theater and pay $500 annually for 20 years.

1962 – The first Honorary Conch Certificate was presented by Monroe County Mayor Gerald Saunders to Rear Admiral R.Y. McElroy, Commander Naval Base Key West.

1970 – Congressman Dante Fascell was the featured speaker at the dedication of the new Islamorada Post Office.

1988 – The Key West City Commission approved an ordinance that would virtually end construction of new hotel rooms.

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

Image: A Key West fire inspector examining the interior of a burned building, ca. 1960. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.