May 29

Aerial view of Garrison Bight, First Street and Trumbo Island, Key West, ca. 1950

1828 – Congress passed a bill establishing a territorial or federal court at Key West under the title of the Superior Court of the Southern Judicial District of the Territory of Florida.

1937 – Sloppy Joe’s Bar had its grand opening at its new location on the corner of Duval and Greene streets at 9:30 p.m. The event featured free dancing to George Dean’s Swing Band and souvenirs for everyone.

1962 – In the Democratic primary Hilario “Charlie” Ramos Jr. won a stunning victory over Bernie C. Papy for the post of State Representative. Papy had held the office for 28 years and was the dean of the Florida House.

1962 – A team from the Florida Road Department was in Key West to survey for the possibility of constructing a bridge across Garrison Bight. The proposed bridge, running from somewhere between First and Fifth Streets and connecting to Palm Avenue, would ease traffic congestion and provide a base for a new marina.

1962 – The Navy announced that the first of the 420 duplex housing units at Sigsbee Park was being occupied.

1969 – Norman D. Artman left the Key West Citizen as publisher. He had taken over the paper after his father’s death in 1952 and was owner and publisher until December 1968 when he sold the paper to Charles H. Morris but remained as publisher during the transition.

1991 – Multiple developments were proposed for areas in and around the Key West’s Salt Ponds: A 186-room resort on 5 acres across from Smathers Beach, a 21-unit resort on 13 acres next to La Brisa condominiums, and phase three construction of the Ocean Walk/Las Salinas apartments complex.

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

Image: Aerial view of Garrison Bight, First Street and Trumbo Island, Key West, ca. 1950. Jeff Brodhead Collection, gift of Sharon Wells. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.