September 1
- Florida Keys History Center
- 9 hours ago
- 1 min read
1862 – Yellow fever raged during the month, killing 20 members of the 90th New York Regiment. Another 27 men died in the Marine Hospital.
1931 – Key West firefighters walked off the job, leaving Firehouse No. 1 with only Chief Pinder. Firehouse No. 2, which was paid by the county, was still staffed. The firefighters walked out because they had not been paid, and the City Commission could not tell them when they might be.
1956 – A group of 21 persons who frequently gathered to water-ski at Boca Chica Beach gathered at the Shady Rest Inn on Boca Chica Road to form the “Water Sports Outboard Club.” Their goal was promoting water sports, boating safety, and good sportsmanship.
1959 – The Monroe County Commission voted to ask the State Road Department to allocate $25,000 for a survey to determine the feasibility of the construction of a highway from Big Pine Key to Cape Sable on the southwest coast of Florida.
2001 – In an agreement with the city, house boats began leaving “Houseboat Row” along Key West’s southeastern seawall to go to Garrison Bight. Twenty-six vessels were expected to make the move, and Key West Assistant City Manager John Jones hoped to transfer one a day during September.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: South Roosevelt Boulevard and Houseboat Row, Key West. Taken on September 1, 1999 by Ty Symroski and Wendy Tucker. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
