1846 – The Great Hurricane of 1846 struck Key West and by noon, full hurricane winds were blowing with a storm surge of over seven feet. All buildings on the island were damaged or destroyed and the lighthouses at Sand Key and in Key West were destroyed. This was probably the most severe hurricane to hit the island but no barometer reading from Key West survived. A reading of 27.06 inches was recorded in Cuba before the storm moved north.
1878 – The following officials were elected in the Key West city elections: L.W. Bethel, mayor; William Curry, treasurer; Joseph Fagan, marshal; Peter T. Knight, clerk; William D. Albury, tax collector; and commissioners John W. Sawyer, John Mathews, Robert Gabriel, Charles Curry, James R. Curry, J.W.V.R. Plummer, George H. Curry, William B. Curry and Joseph F. Albury.
1880 – The following were winners in the Key West city election: R.J. Perry, mayor; William Richardson, clerk; Joseph Fagan, marshal; William H. Williams, tax collector; William Curry, treasurer; and commissioners Charles R. Adams, M.S. Thimon, J.J. Philbrick, A.J. Kemp, J.L. McDermoth, G.W. Maslin, G.R. Russell, W.R. Curry and W.J. Bartlum.
1881 – The following were winners in the Key West city election: E.O. Gwynn, mayor; William Richardson, clerk; Phillip Grillon, marshal; John Curry, tax collector; and commissioner Charles R. Adams, M.S. Thimor, J.P. Williams, Robert Watson, Lewis W. Pierce, D.T. Sweeney, Joseph F. Albury, William Bethel and Dr. J.V. Harris.
1909 – A Category 3 hurricane with winds over 100 mph and rain fall of 8.12 inches in five hours struck the island of Key West. The buildings wholly destroyed included the cigar factories of the Ruy Lopez Company; the Martinez Company; George W. Nichols & Company and Aurelia Torres; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; Sparks Chapel; English Wesleyan Church, Bethel A.M.E. Church; Fire Station #1, Wolfson’s building and Markovitz’ five-and-ten cent store.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library
Image: Sparks Chapel (Fleming Street Methodist Church) before and after the 1909 Hurricane. Gift Fleming Street Church. Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library. https://www.flickr.com/photos/keyslibraries/7841218020