July 25

The gold sword given to Col. Tilghman Good during the Civil War in Key West, shown at Civil War days at Fort Taylor, ca. 1995.

1863 – In a ceremony at Clinton Place in Key West, the local citizenry presented a $750 gold sword to Colonel Tilghman H. Good, Commander of the 47^th Pennsylvania Regiment. Col. Good had rescinded an order that would have banished to Charleston nearly 600 Key Westers suspected of being Confederate sympathizers.

1925 – Ground was broken for the new Gomez Filling Station and Key West Tires business, located at the southeast corner of Fleming and Elizabeth streets in Key West. Construction of the new automobile service center was expected to be completed by August 15.

1949 – Lt. Ray Edward Demeritt of Key West, killed in action when his plane was shot down over France on June 23, 1944, was buried in the United States Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, nine miles southwest of Liege, Belgium.

1975 – Marine biologist Dr. Richard Warner told Monroe County Commissioners that oil recently washed up on Lower Keys beaches “is of a non-toxic variety – it won’t harm the wildlife, fishes, crawfish, nor the mangroves.”

1983 – Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the shopping center on Key Deer Boulevard on Big Pine Key.

1997 – Carol MacLaren drew an envelope with the word “yes” to become Layton’s third mayor. MacLaren and Hal Halenza each received 45 votes in the runoff election. In accordance with Florida law, they were required to draw lots to determine the winner.

2015 – The Navy announced that the removal of metal-laden soil from the Truman Waterfront property in Key West was complete. With the successful clean-up, construction of a community park could begin.

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

Image: The gold sword given to Col. Tilghman Good during the Civil War in Key West, shown at Civil War days at Fort Taylor, ca. 1995. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.