October 19
1927 – To fulfill a fixed contract with the U.S. Post Office, Pan American Airlines hired pilot Cy Caldwell to fly a single-engine seaplane from Key West to Havana. The plane left at 8:04 a.m. carrying seven sacks of mail holding 30,000 letters. It landed in Havana 62 minutes later. Caldwell’s flight saved the new airline, whose own planes would not be available until October 28.
1956 – Renowned composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona arrived at Key West from Havana to give performances on the island over the next two days. Lecuona was given a key to the city and made an honorary deputy sheriff of Monroe County.
1966 – The rooming house at 411 William Street in Key West had been condemned and owner Reva Koch and her tenants ordered out of the deteriorated structure. Koch had been granted an extension to make repairs but had taken no action towards doing so.
1976 – Monroe County Health Department nurses administered the swine flu vaccine to 478 people at the Red Cross Center in Tavernier.
1979 – The Harry S. Truman Animal Import Center on Fleming Key in Key West, the first of its kind on U.S. soil, was dedicated. The main speaker for the opening was Governor Bob Graham.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: 411 William Street, built ca. 1889, in 1965. Photo taken by the Monroe County Property Appraiser's office. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
