October 11
1846 – The Great Hurricane of 1846 struck Key West in the early morning hours, and by noon full hurricane winds were blowing, bringing a storm surge of over seven feet. All buildings on the island were damaged or destroyed, and the lighthouses at Sand Key and Key West were left in ruins. A barometer reading of 27.06 inches was recorded in Cuba before the storm moved north.
1878 – The following officials were elected in the city elections: L.W. Bethel, mayor; William Curry, treasurer; Joseph Fagan, marshal; Peter T. Knight, clerk; William D. Albury, tax collector; and commissioners John W. Sawyer, John Mathews, Robert Gabriel, Charles Curry, James R. Curry, J.W.V.R. Plummer, George H. Curry, William B. Curry, and Joseph F. Albury.
1909 – A category 3 hurricane with winds over 100 m.p.h. and rain fall of 8.12 inches in five hours struck Key West. The buildings wholly destroyed were the cigar factories of the Ruy Lopez Company, the Martinez Company, George W. Nichols & Company, and Aurelia Torres; churches St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; Sparks Chapel; English Wesleyan Church, and Bethel A.M.E. Church. Also destroyed were Fire Station #1, Wolfson’s building, and Markovitz’ five and ten cent store.
1946 – The Aerovias Q airlines building at Meacham Airfield in Key West was broken into overnight and most of its furnishing – chairs, rugs, lamps, and fans – were stolen. The theft was a setback for the Cuba-based airline’s Key West operation, which had just opened.
2011 – New leadership at the William Weech American Legion Post at 803 Emma Street in Key West was rejecting previously approved plans to renovate the building. The new guard felt the plans, which emphasized its use as a community center, would take away from the facility’s original design and purpose.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: An Aerovias Q DC-3 plane taking off from the Key West Airport, ca. 1950. Jeff Brodhead Collection, gift of Sharon Wells. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
