March 29

The revived Key West Comparsa dance group during rehearsal at the Cuban Club, March 1955.

1888 – The man-of-war USS Richmond, flagship of Rear-Admiral Stephen B. Luce, collided with the Swedish bark Lima while seeking anchorage at Key West. The Richmond suffered considerable damage to its bow and quarterdeck; the bark lost its jibboom and bowsprit. 

1906 – After 14 days of testing, the DeForrest wireless telegraph was accepted by the Navy. The stations in the system were at Key West, Pensacola, San Juan, Porto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Colon, Panama.

1938 – The new Overseas Highway opened, using the old railroad bridges from Lower Matecumbe to Big Pine Key.

1955 – Albert Bosa revived the Key West Comparsa dancers. They held rehearsals at the Cuban Club.

1956 – Gilda Marin, the reigning “Miss Cuba,” arrived in Key West from Havana on the new TMT Cuba automobile ferry. Marin was starting a goodwill tour of the United States.

1964 – Former President Harry Truman dedicated a bridge at Duck Key, which was named for him.

1963 – The Oldest Bar and Cistern Room at 428 Greene Street held its formal opening. The bar was one of the first “semi-open” gay-friendly businesses in Key West.

1975 – The new East and West Wings of the Monroe County Library at 700 Fleming Street were dedicated. The speaker was Ralph Renick, News Director of WTVJ Television. Tennessee Williams, for whom the new auditorium was named, also attended and spoke.

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

Image: The revived Key West Comparsa dance group during rehearsal at the Cuban Club, March 1955. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.