July 30
- Florida Keys History Center
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
1894 – The federal government resolved to establish a naval coaling station at Key West for the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea fleets. The plan would create great financial savings for the Navy and the use of American coal at the facility would be a boon for domestic mining interests.
1933 – The temperature at Key West reached 94 degrees, making it the hottest day on the island since 1884.
1953 – Charles Aronovitz retired from the Key West business his father started in 1889 and which he had taken over in 1939. The Aronovitz name would remain on the island, though, as his son Sidney opened another retail store at 622 Duval Street.
1955 – Assistant Key West Fire Chief Charles Torres collapsed and died of a cerebral hemorrhage while fighting a fire at White and Olivia streets. Torres had been an integral member of the department since 1941.
1986 – The Monroe County School Board planned to utilize “sniff dogs” in schools during the 1986-87 school year to detect drugs. They also planned to end off-campus lunch privileges at Key West High School to prevent students from buying or using drugs during the mid-day break.
2011 – Father John Baker of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church blessed the commercial lobster fishing fleet in Stock Island, reviving what had once been a long-running tradition for Keys commercial fishing vessels.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: B'nai Zion Installation, Charles Aronovitz (L) and Dr. H.B. Bernstein (R), on January 11, 1955. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
