May 1

Aerial view of the south side of Key West, including the Berg property and the 1800 Atlantic condominium buildings. Taken on September 1, 1999 by Ty Symroski and Wendy Tucker.

1895 – A bill was introduced in the Florida Senate authorizing Monroe County to issue $500,000 in bonds to build a highway from Key West to Key Largo.

1911 – “The Ranchman,” a play in four acts, was presented at the Odd Fellows Opera House in Key West for the benefit of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The cast, composed of island youth, was directed by Mildred Shavers.

1931 – A May Day Festival was held in Key West’s Bayview Park.

1954 – The new Southard Hotel at the corner of Southard and Duval streets in Key West opened.

1994 – The United States Census Bureau reported that while Florida grew by 32% from 1980 to 1990, Key West, Stock Island and Big Coppitt Key grew by only 2%.

2000 – The Florida Department of Community Affairs awarded Key West an additional 54 units of affordable housing under the Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) because the city had preserved the Berg property, an unaltered beachfront area and home to many species of indigenous Keys plants and animals.

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

Image: Aerial view of the south side of Key West, including the Berg property and the 1800 Atlantic condominium buildings. Taken on September 1, 1999 by Ty Symroski and Wendy Tucker. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.