September 5

Key West Drug Company at 500 Simonton Street ca. 1940.

1900 – The case of the bark South American, which had wrecked on French Reef, was heard in federal court. The vessel with a cargo of mahogany was lost. The salvors were awarded a fee of $11,925.

1917 – The Big Pine Key home of J.T. Knowles burned to the ground with all its contents. Knowles was a prosperous farmer on the island, and his home was described as “a beautiful one.” A defective chimney flue was determined to be the cause of the blaze.

1935 – Key West received $14,491 from the federal government to build fly-tight privies where needed, with the goal of improving sanitary conditions on the island.

1945 – The Key West Drug Company, at the corner of Simonton and Fleming streets, featured a window display of trophies collected in the South Pacific by Key Wester Leo Braxton Warren, Chief Pharmacist Mate, USN, during his wartime service.

1969 – The old B’nai Zion Synagogue on Simonton Street was sold to the Mission to the Military Inc., a serviceman’s Christian center. The old building was replaced by the new synagogue on United Street.

1978 – Regina McMahen completed training at the Florida Police Academy and received her badge and gun to become the first female officer on the Key West Police force.

1982 – Furniture finisher magnate Homer Fromby sold Little Munson Island for $1.25 million to Charles and Alexis Kohn.

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

Image: Key West Drug Company at 500 Simonton Street ca. 1940. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.