January 2

Key West Golf Course, 1920s.

1861 – The Army reported that Key West’s Fort Taylor had the following armament: 60 coastal and garrison cannons, 50 8-inch Columbians and 10 24-inch flanking howitzers.

1887 – Key West newspaperman Horatio Crain advocated for the appointment of women to the county school board.

1923 – The tomato crop on Key Largo was promising: In the previous week, 5,000 crates had been shipped, with an average profit of $4 per crate. And it was thought this yield represented only 10% of the year’s anticipated harvest.

1926 – Detroit golf professional Harry Hampton and his assistant Ed Valentine arrived at Key West, where Hampton would serve as the course inspector for the season. The men were planning to host a series of golf tournaments on the island over the coming months.

1928 – It was announced that the first-ever girls’ varsity basketball team would be organized at Key West High School, with Miss O. Schell as coach.

1946 – Key West Tax Collector Sam Pinder, Sr. announced he would resign as soon a successor was found. Pinder’s notice came after City Manager Dave King said the position could no longer be paid on a commission basis. Pinder had been receiving 2% of his department’s collections, or over $450 a month.

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

Image: The Scott DeWolfe Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.