May 4

The 500 block of Duval Street including the Bahama Club at 519 Duval Street, ca. 1962.

1832 – John James Audubon arrived at Key West on the revenue cutter Marion. He would spend a little over one month in the Keys and at the Tortugas painting birds and plants for his book, “The Birds of America.”

1926 – By a tally of 286 to 32, Monroe County voters approved a $200,000 school bond. The money was to be used for an addition to the Monroe County High School and a kindergarten on Reynolds Street in Key West.

1936 – After the bridge linking No Name and Big Pine Keys was destroyed by fire on April 30, work began to build a temporary landing ramp from Big Pine out to Bogie Channel for highway ferry passengers.

1946 – Four Key West bars – Duffy’s Tavern at 506 Fleming; Boat Bar at 503 Duval; Bahama Club at 519 Duval; and Raoul’s Place on Smith Lane – were warned that their licenses could soon be revoked because they were within 300 feet of the San Carlos building, which housed a school.

1948 – In the Monroe County Democratic primary, Bernie C. Papy was re-elected as state representative. Other winners were Earl Adams, clerk of circuit court, Joe Allen for county commission and Harry Harris, county commission.

1954 – State Representative Bernie C. Papy was re-elected for the 11th time by a record margin of 1,294 votes over his opponent.

1956 – The Civil Aeronautics Administration announced that no federal funds would be available for the construction of airport facilities that were to be racially segregated. The new terminal building at the Key West International Airport, still in the design phase, would not be segregated and was eligible for funding.

2001 – Nearly 400 Key West High School alumni gathered on the island for a weekend reunion of the members of the classes from 1950-60.

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

Image: The 500 block of Duval Street including the Bahama Club at 519 Duval Street, ca. 1962. Photo by John Rieth. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.