January 27

Aerial view of the U.S. Army Barracks at Key West (now Peary Court), ca. 1940.

1857 – The wrecking schooner Florida, while loading cotton from a ship ashore at Caesar’s Creek, was burned to the waterline. While the crew was working at night, a globe lamp that hung from the mast was accidentally knocked into the cargo hold, and the vessel was set ablaze. The schooner was a total loss, but the crew were all saved.

1926 – Dr. George Howard Parker, head of the Department of Zoology at Harvard University, was in Key West to study the Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish. “Key West is rich in marine life, the waters teeming with many wonderful specimens,” said the professor.

1949 – The Key West Army Barracks property was transferred to the Navy. The 26-acre site between White Street and Palm Avenue would be used to build the Peary Court Navy housing complex.

1953 – A red tide fish kill was reported 10 miles west of Key West. A 20-mile area with dead fish was reported by Fort Jefferson service boat captain Joe Santini.

1981 – Emma M. Thompson, one of Key West’s beloved matriarchs, died at her home at the age of 92. She was a charter member of the Key West Art & Historical Society and active member of the Woman’s and Garden Clubs.

1989 – Don Pinder, The Key West Citizen’s premier photographer, retired after 35 years.

1998 – The Monroe County Commission voted to accept a $100,000 grant for a transit greenway system that would combine walkways and bike paths with mass transit.

2006 – The Federal Communications Commission ended public radio station WLRN's broadcasts to Key West. The station’s unlicensed signal, which was transmitted through the Keys via a “daisy chain” of translators, was interfering with the licensed broadcasts of WKWR.  

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

Image: Aerial view of the U.S. Army Barracks at Key West (now Peary Court), ca. 1940. U.S. Navy photo from the Ida Woodward Barron collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.