March 20

814 Windsor Lane, ca. 1965; burned and razed 1976.

1923 – A fire began in an unoccupied cigar factory at the corner of White and Newton streets in Key West. The blaze spread, and it destroyed 43 homes in the area bounded by White, Ashe, Angela, and Petronia streets. The loss was estimated at $125,000, and 40 families were left homeless.

1936 – Artist William Hoffman left the WPA art program in Key West after having completed two murals for the Key West High School Auditorium – one depicting construction on the Overseas Railroad and another showing Spanish explorers discovering bones on “Cayo Hueso.” Hoffman had been painting on the island since 1934.

1956 – May Sands, a teacher in the Monroe County School System for 47 years, died at the age of 71. The May Sands School in Key West was named after her.

1959 – The Navy made the last operational fight with an airship from Naval Air Station Key West. All the airships (blimps) were transferred to Naval Air Station Glynco in Georgia.

1964 – A Soviet-built helicopter hijacked from Cuba landed undetected at Key West International Airport. Two Cuban Army Captains had commandeered the craft, and in the struggle for control the pilot was killed.

1965 – The Key West Citizen was awarded first place for their front-page lay-out at the spring session of the Associated Press Managing Editors meeting in Tallahassee.

1976 – The long-time home of Alvin and Eva Scott at 814 Windsor Lane in Key West was destroyed by fire. Passers-by rescued the elderly couple from the burning house, with Mrs. Scott requiring particular assistance, as she was completely blind. 

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

Image: 814 Windsor Lane, ca. 1965; burned and razed 1976. Pt Tract 5. Photo taken by the Monroe County Property Appraiser's Office Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.