September 18
1864 – A U.S. Army Lt. Colonel was apparently cured of yellow fever when an old Key West resident drew the illness away via parts of a freshly butchered chicken placed across his body. “In this disease it don’t take long for a man to know whether he is going to be ‘rubbed out’ or not, generally 3 or 4 days,” wrote a witness.
1937 – A plan was approved to remove WPA highway workers from the Upper Keys and bring them to Key West in case of a hurricane. Coast Guard patrol boats were to be used to move the men to No Name Key where they would then be taken to Key West by automobile.
1953 – The 25th case of polio since the beginning of the year was reported. For three weeks, an average of five cases a week were reported. Of the 15 cases in the three weeks, only one involved partial paralysis.
1949 – A.J. Dion took out a building permit for $20,000 to build a 10-unit motel on Truman Avenue between Simonton and Duval streets.
2001 – The Key West Fire Department held a memorial service for the over 400 New York firefighters fallen or missing after the attacks on September 11. All KWFD trucks and personnel gathered at the Central Fire Station to honor their comrades.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Workers stationed on Conch Key to build the Overseas Highway, May 16, 1937. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
