May 20

A man and two women with the Jose Marti bust at the East Martello Museum in Key West.

1893 – The Cuban community in Key West planned to collect $60,000 during the month to support the revolution in Cuba.

1902 – U.S. troops were withdrawn from Cuba and Tomas Estrada Palma was inaugurated as the nation’s first elected president.

1926 – J.W. Davis of Davis Tours of Miami was in Key West with a film crew to shoot “views of the city, points of interest, and something of the quaint insular life” for travel reels to be shown across the country. This was considered a great benefit to the city, and residents were encouraged to cooperate with Davis.

1956 – Cuban Treasurer General Plutarco Villalobo Marquez presented a marble bust of José Martí to the Key West Art & Historical Society. Mayor C.B. Harvey thanked the Cuban government in both English and Spanish for the gesture of friendship.

1983 – Sister Dolores Wehle, principal of St. Mary’s School, left for a new assignment after 18 years. She was the last member of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary to serve in the school, a tradition that began in 1868.

1986 – The Key West City Commission passed an ordinance that required pet owners to keep their furred and feathered animals from disturbing the peace. The measure was largely driven by the complaints of residents who were being kept awake by the crowing of roosters.

1995 – The Key West High School varsity baseball team defeated Seminole Osceola 6-4 to win the Class 4A state high school championship.

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

Image: A man and two women with the Jose Marti bust at the East Martello Museum in Key West. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.