1901 – The U.S. government halted the raising of carrier pigeons at its Key West station. Small lots of breeders and carriers were offered for sale to the highest bidders.
1922 – Oklahoma Governor-elect Jack C. Walton and family left Key West after having spent an extended fishing vacation in the Keys.
1924 – With a record year for the cigar business, unprecedented sponge catches, and the promise offered by both the coming La Concha Hotel and road to the mainland, happy and exceptionally large Christmas Eve crowds were expected on Duval Street.
1933 – A new municipal pier was completed at the end of Simonton Street in Key West. The 70-foot-long and 16-foot-wide structure was built by James Wells under the Civil Works Administration.
1941 – Due to “unsettled conditions in the Atlantic,” a complete blackout was ordered for Key West beginning at 1 a.m. All civilians were also required to be off the streets.
1942 – Sloppy Joe’s Bar had a Christmas Eve party that featured Joe Russo’s Band and ran until 2 a.m.
1964 – Key West was booming for the holiday season. Hotels and the Conch Trains were full, and the airport was the busiest it had been since Castro took over Cuba. Downtown merchants were happy.
Information compiled by the late Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The 500 block of Duval Street during the Holidays C 1960. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center