January 18

The Key West Conch Train at the Front Street "depot," ca. 1960.

1908 – A train of the Florida East Coast Railroad crossed the Long Key viaduct and reached Knight’s Key, the farthest south any U.S. train had ever before been.

1912 – John J. Frawley of the Lubin Manufacturing Company was in Key West to film the arrival of the first train, as well as other scenes of the city.

1926 – The headlights of many Key West automobiles were too bright, so police issued a warning for drivers to adjust their dimmers appropriately. Arrests would be made of those who did not comply.

1958 – With a fare of 90 cents per passenger, the first Conch Tour Train rolled onto the streets of Key West under the ownership of Bill and Olive Kroll.

1991 – Key West became the final link in cellular phone service to the Florida Keys when BellSouth Mobility installed its equipment in the city.

1992 – Key West charter boat Captain Hans Baumgarten was murdered by two men who stole his boat and attempted to go to Cuba with it. The men were arrested when the boat ran out of gas.

2016 – The commodore of Havana’s Marina Hemingway was in Key West to meet with city officials to discuss the possibility of opening ferry service between the two cities.

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

Image: The Key West Conch Train at the Front Street "depot," ca. 1960. Bill Kroll is at the front of the train, on the left. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.