1851 – The bark Franklin arrived at Key West from Philadelphia with iron framing for the new screw-pile lighthouse to be built at Sand Key.
1926 – Eduardo H. Gato, Key West’s leading cigar manufacturer, died in Havana. He was born in Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba, in 1847 and came to Key West in 1874. At its peak, his business employed over 500 workers. Gato’s last factory on Simonton Street is now used by Monroe County as government offices.
1934 – The first load of tomatoes shipped under a new trade agreement between the U.S. and Cuba arrived at Key West on the ferry Estrada Palma from Havana.
1945 – The captured German U-boat 505 was open for public tours at Key West to anyone who had purchased a bond in the Victory Loan Campaign.
1985 – In a hurricane-delayed election, Tom Sawyer was a 58-vote winner over Captain Tony Tarracino for mayor of Key West. Sally Lewis and Jimmy Weekley were elected to the city commission.
2004 – Author and new Key West resident Meg Cabot held a book signing at Borders Books on North Roosevelt Blvd. for “The Princess Present,” the latest volume in her globally popular “Princess Diaries” series.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: An engraving of Key West cigar manufacturer Eduardo H. Gato, ca. 1890. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.