1900 – Jacob McCleary, who worked on the Big Pine Key farm of Whitmore Pinder, shot and killed James Straun. For some time, Straun had been vandalizing Pinder’s crops, and the shooting resulted from an altercation over the situation.
1918 – A southbound passenger train derailed 10 miles south of Pigeon Key, with the locomotive plunging down the embankment. A relief train was sent from Key West to remove the passengers. The extent of any injuries was unknown, but no one was killed.
1924 – The Stephen R. Mallory Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy unveiled the monument in Bayview Park in memory of those who served in the Confederate army and navy.
1928 – Key Westers Joanna Byrd and Renaldo Wilson were pronounced insane by the local lunacy board. Sheriff Niles wired for nurses from the state hospital to come get them.
1959 – Filming started on the movie “Operation Petticoat.” The movie starred Gary Grant who was already in Key West and Tony Curtis, who was enroute.
2005 – Sugarloaf students spoke before the Monroe County Commission to urge commissioners to create a new 7-acre sports park next to the school. The County leaders agreed and approved its funding.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: A postcard of the Confederate Memorial in Bayview Park Key West. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center