May 31

Members of the Key West Elks Club in front of their lodge at 313 Duval Street with an iron lung they donated to the city, 1946.

1889 – The Florida Legislature granted a new charter to the City of Key West that placed the entire island within city limits.

1946 – The Key West Elks Lodge ordered an iron lung for donation to the city. The lung would be kept at the city hospital, though it would also be available for use elsewhere on the island.

1950 – The U.S. Census of 1950 showed the population of Monroe County was 29,957, of which 26,433 lived in Key West.

1956 – After a final tally of absentee ballots, William “Billy” Freeman defeated Paul Mesa by one vote in the Democratic primary race for Monroe County Supervisor of Registration of Electors.

1995 – Barrels of hydraulic oil washed ashore in the Florida Keys, with two landing at Smathers Beach in Key West. The Coast Guard was investigating the possibility the barrels came from a ship that had sunk off Venezuela in early April.

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

Image: Members of the Key West Elks Club in front of their lodge at 313 Duval Street with an iron lung they donated to the city, 1946. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.