October 22

A Key West chicken, ca. 2010.

1862 – The “Union ladies” of Key West presented the Army chaplain with a U.S. flag to raise over the regimental church. As it was raised, an artillery salute was fired, the crowd cheered, and speeches followed.

1935 – Detroit businessman Harold A. Clark announced that he had purchased the two-year-old Sombrero Lodge at Marathon and planned to significantly renovate it. Clark also planned to build a hotel on an adjoining property that would be “one of the most complete and modern on the keys.”

1950 – The Coast Guard announced that Dry Tortugas Harbor was closed to commercial fishermen except in extreme emergency. The closure was apparently prompted by the earlier destruction of sea turtle nests and bird life by trawler crews.

1953 – The Monroe County Health Unit reported the 54th case of polio case of the year with five deaths.

1957 – Admiral Francis D. McCorkle reported that the Navy had a total of 11,776 military and civilian workers on the payroll in Key West plus an additional 8,243 dependents living in the area.

1974 – The E.K. Corporation began filming “92 in the Shade” based on Thomas McGuane’s book. The movie, which was set in Key West and Stock Island, starred Peter Fonda.

2010 – After multiple chicken poisonings in Key West and Stock Island over previous days, Lower Keys wildlife organizations were worried about not only the brazenly illegal acts, but also the effects that poisoned feed and tainted carcasses would have on other animals.

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

Image: A Key West chicken, ca. 2010. From the Dale McDonald Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.