March 1
- Florida Keys History Center
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
1898 – The members of the Naval Court of Inquiry investigating the sinking of the Battleship Maine were Captain French E. Chadwick, Captain William T. Sampson, Lieutenant Commander Adolph Marix and Lieutenant Commander William P. Potter. Their meetings were held in the Key West Custom House.
1934 – The first issue of the new monthly magazine “Paths” was published by Key Wester Marie Cappick from her home at 415 Olivia St. The 20-page volume featured content about the island that was of interest to both residents and tourists.
1941 – The White Heron Club (formerly the Stork Club) on Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West featured three performances by the Mexican dancer Deloria Cortez, with music provided by Crunch-Crunch and his Royal Cayo Huesians.
1943 – The names of 30 people who had quit their jobs for no apparent reason were turned over to County Criminal Judge Wm. Albury, and those who had no good excuse were to be arrested for vagrancy. Judge Albury said of the unemployed, “It is still go to work, or go to jail; join the army or get out of town…. If he agrees to go to work to help the war effort, we will be delighted, but if he
persists in loafing, action positively will be taken against him.”
1951 – Florida’s Hotel Commissioner reported Monroe County had 924 motel and 738 hotel rooms.
1970 – Four Navy men, George Porter, Andrew Ratiff, Larry Nixon Jr. and Joseph Carter, were fishing in a small boat when a cold front passed over the Keys, and they failed to return home. An extensive search led by the Coast Guard and Navy did not find any trace of them.
1996 – The USS L.Y. Spear, with a crew of 800, arrived for a week’s visit. After the ship was notified that it would be decommissioned later in the year, the crew was asked where they wanted to go for their last liberty port, and they chose Key West.
2006 – Prompted by blows from Hurricane Wilma and changing Medicare rules, the owners of Dennis Pharmacy at 1229 Simonton St. in Key West announced they were leasing the building to Marine Bank. The pharmacy would be consolidated with another branch, but the business’ popular diner needed a new home.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Dennis Pharmacy 1229 Simonton St., ca. 1965. Tract 11, Sqr 7, Pt Lot 1, Sub 3, 4, 5. Photo taken by Monroe County Property Appraiser's office. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
