February 13

Postcard of the First United Methodist Old Stone Church, 600 Eaton Street, Key West, ca. 1910.

1899 – The Key West Electric Street Railway company began operations with one streetcar that made repeated trips up and down Duval Street and to La Brisa. Everything worked smoothly, and nearly 500 passengers traveled on the car before it stopped for the night.

1905 – The new Navy Wireless Radio Station constructed by the Deforest Company was successfully tested.

1926 – Richmond Pearson Hobson, a retired Navy admiral, former U.S. Congressman, and leading proponent of Prohibition, delivered an address titled “The Crisis” at Old Stone Methodist Church in Key West. Hobson’s visit to the island was sponsored by the Anti-Saloon League. 

1951 – Former President Herbert Hoover spent 10 days fishing off the Upper and Middle keys.

1968 – Claude Valdez was named winner of the contest to design a flag for the City of Key West. His flag would later become the banner of the Conch Republic.

1968 – The Key West City Commission voted unanimously to donate 15 acres of land on Stock Island for the Lower Keys Hospital.

1986 – It was learned the tieline designed to bring electricity to Key West from the mainland would require rerouting. Original plans called for it to run along the south side of the highway between Big Pine Key and the Seven Mile Bridge, but an aqueduct pipeline was already there. New plans called for the line to run one mile north of the highway.

1998 – When qualifying ended, 14 candidates had signed up for one of the five council seats for the Florida Keys’ newest municipality, Islamorada, A Village of Islands.

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

Image: Postcard of the First United Methodist Old Stone Church, 600 Eaton Street, Key West, ca. 1910. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.