October 29
- Florida Keys History Center
- Oct 28
- 2 min read
1907 – Key West Custom Inspector Tony Welters seized a cache of smuggled cigarettes near the West Martello Tower. After hearing a suspicious conversation, Welters stationed himself in the cupola of the Custom House. From there, he spied a small boat row out to retrieve a package stashed at a buoy and then row back to the beach near the tower.
1923 – Florida Publishing Company, publisher of “Florida,” a Cuban weekly newspaper, was at 727 Whitehead Street. Feliciano Castro was the editor and Juan P. Rolo the manager.
1925 – The J.G. Breck Engineering Co. submitted plans to Monroe County commissioners for the construction of a water pipeline running from the mainland to Key West. Under the proposal, a pipe of not less than 20 inches in diameter would be built for $3 million and carry 1 million gallons a day.
1930 – The Coast Guard, while chasing a rum-running boat near Key West, opened fire to stop it, and three men were arrested. The men claimed that Willie “Twisteye” Demerritt had been shot and fell overboard. A search failed to find his body. Local authorities tried to charge the Coast Guard crew with murder, but they left town and charges were dropped. Demerritt was never seen again.
1935 – The mate of the Sun Oil Company’s MV Sun reported that he saw the light of the Dry Tortugas Lighthouse from a distance of 51.9 miles, nearly 11 miles farther than thought possible.
1960 – An Aerovias Q flight was hijacked over Cuba and forced to fly to Key West. In the melee, a Cuban guard was killed and three people were wounded.
2004 – The State of Florida agreed to buy the Harris School on Southard Street in Key West under its “Florida Forever” program. The plan was to lease the historic property to the Rodel Foundation and The Studios of Key West as an art colony, with Rodel agreeing to restore the building. The Monroe County School District had not decided whether to accept the offer.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Aerial view of Harris School at Southard and Margaret Streets, Key West. Taken on September 1, 1999 by Ty Symroski and Wendy Tucker. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
