May 6

Key West High School Stadium stands being built on May 6, 1955.

1934 – Fishermen from Thompson Fish Company, while skinning a shark, found human foot bones and a slipper in the shark’s stomach. No identification was ever made of the remains.

1952 – Bernie Papy won his 10th consecutive term as state representative for Monroe County. Other winners were John Spottswood, sheriff; Lancelot Lester, state attorney; Raymond Lord, county judge; Claude Gandolfo, tax assessor; Howard Wilson, tax collector; Harry Dongo, clerk of criminal court; Joe Allen, county commissioner; Clarence Higgs, county commissioner; Harry Harris, county commissioner; and Gerald Adams, school board.

1955 – Work on the stands for the Key West High School Stadium was well underway, and the job was expected to be completed within the week. When done, the stands would seat 3,076 people.

1967 – The Florida Historical Society held its annual meeting in Key West.

1990 – County Commissioner Doug Jones headed to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials after the Monroe County Commission voted 4-1 against a proposed Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Jones was seeking assurance that Keys “maritime industries” would not be banned by the new preserve. 

1995 – The Coast Guard sent 13 Cuban refugees back to Cuba. This was the first group returned in 35 years, based on a new policy requiring refugees to land on US soil before they could stay.

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

Image: Key West High School Stadium stands being built on May 6, 1955. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.