June 12

Long's Furniture Store at 800 Fleming Street, ca. 1970 (formerly Peacon's Grocery).

1823 – Commodore David Porter, on board the US Steamer Sea Gull at Key West, ordered Lieut. T.M. Newell of the schooner Ferret to sail to the south coast of Cuba to protect U.S. shipping interests against pirates. Newell was only to return to Key West when his provisions ran out.

1910 – Mr. J.T. Knowles sailed for Miami on the schooner Etta Thompson to purchase chickens for his farm on Big Pine Key, where he hoped to establish a large-scale poultry business.

1924 – Richard Peacon, Jr. died at his home at age 64. For 38 years he had operated a grocery store in Key West, and the time of his death he had the largest store on the island, located at the corner of Fleming and William streets.

1943 – The United States Submarine R-12 was conducting training off Key West when the forward battery compartment flooded, and the sub sank in about 15 seconds. The mishap took 42 officers and men to a watery grave.

1953 – In an 11-inning thriller, the Key West High School baseball team defeated Palm Beach High 5 to 4 to win the Conchs their first-ever Florida High School AAA State Championship. Gibby Gates was the hero of the game after he stole home in the 10^th to tie, and he then hit a double in the 11^th to drive in the winning run.

1982 – The cornerstone was laid for the new Marathon Library branch.

2001 – At a special meeting of the Monroe County Commission, Commissioner Murray Nelson announced a plan to purchase the Rowell property at MM 104 in Key Largo for $6 million for use as an Upper Keys government center.

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

Image: Long's Furniture Store at 800 Fleming Street, ca. 1970 (formerly Peacon's Grocery). From the Ida Woodward Barron Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.