September 16
1923 – The new Monroe County High School on White Street in Key West was dedicated before a large crowd in the auditorium. The main speaker was Dr. William R. Warren. Superintendent of Public Instruction Virgil S. Lowe and Contractor B.A. Johnson gave short addresses.
1930 – Mary Harvey Lake died at age 78. In 1917, when the Key West Library was about to close for the lack of funds, she took charge and for the next 10 years ran it without compensation, attending to her duties from early morning to late night.
1953 – Sinclair Refining Company and Commonwealth Oil Company announced they had ended their oil well drilling on Key Largo and had only found salt water.
1991 – For the second time in eight months, Key West city commissioners rejected a proposal for “Key West Fairways,” a 533-unit residential development along the golf course. The project was also to have sales offices, a 150-seat restaurant, a clubhouse, four tennis courts, and four swimming pools.
2001 – The Monroe County Tourist Development Council was gauging travel forecasts and working to protect Florida Keys tourism as the nation reeled from terror attacks on New York and Washington DC. The overall strategy was to respect the tragedy and its victims while maintaining public awareness of the Keys.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The Key West Golf Course and the old Monroe General Hospital in July 1985. From the Bill Westray Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
