March 23

Bill and Olive Kroll with their car and camper on the Key West-to-Cuba auto ferry, April 26, 1956.

1898 – Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard, Commander Atlantic Fleet on the USS New York anchored off Key West, was put before a retirement board that relieved him on account of physical disability.

1924 – The first six holes of the Key West golf course on Stock Island were opened for play.

1926 – Gunner G.W. Almour said he had recently established communication with Australia, Brazil, Italy, and France via his new high-frequency radio station situated at the head of Key West.

1941 – Ed Ball, general manager of the Alfred I. Dupont estate, purchased 600 acres of land on Upper Matecumbe, Little Torch, and Sugarloaf keys.

1954 – The Key West City Commission voted to accept the 70-foot-wide Riviera Canal from developers Golan, Helberg, and Conley for free public use. Though construction of the canal had cost the developers $2 million, they would maintain ownership of the land on either side.

1956 – The auto ferry TMT Cuba began service between Key West and Havana, becoming the second ferry service at the time to provide passage between the two cities. Local and Cuban government and military officials were on hand for the “bon voyage” party held at the ferry’s dock at the end of Duval Street.

1979 – Activist Lawrence Gomez said he had collected 3,000 signatures for the abolishment of the City of Key West. Gomez told the City Commission that he would not submit the petition for verification or request a referendum because he did not want city employees to lose their jobs.

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

Image: Bill and Olive Kroll with their car and camper on the Key West-to-Cuba auto ferry, April 26, 1956. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.