June 23

An electric Key West streetcar on Greene Street in 1904.

1904 – A shooting took place on Fitzpatrick Street between two men from rival insurance companies. One man was shot in the shoulder and the other arrested and charged with assault with intent to murder.

1905 – Members of Key West’s Black community were urging a boycott of the Key West electric railway on account of a new “Jim Crow” rule that was scheduled to go into effect on July 1 to separate streetcar passengers by race.

1936 – The custodian of Fort Jefferson National Monument confiscated several firearms brought to the Dry Tortugas by a group of Miami Boy Scouts, as firearms were not allowed in national monuments. The scout leader was later arrested, as he resumed firing after the custodian left the area.

1970 – Alabama Governor and presidential candidate George Wallace was vacationing in Key West.

2010 – Though the Florida Keys had not seen any oil from the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon spill, tourism interests reported over $1 million in losses because of the perceived threat of damage. Most of the shortfall came from cancelled hotel and tour reservations.

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

Image: An electric Key West streetcar on Greene Street in 1904. From the DeWolfe and Wood Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.