1877 – The following were winners in the Key West city election: L.W. Bethel, mayor; Peter T. Knight, clerk; Richard C. Roberts, marshal; William D. Albury, tax collector; William Curry, treasurer; and commissioners Robert Gabriel, George D. Warren, Domingo Andre, Charles Curry, F.W. Roberts, John Long Jr., Samuel Filer, Jeremiah Fogarty and B.P. Baker.
1881 – Dr. Robert J. Perry was elected mayor of Key West. He also served as mayor from 1891 to 1895, when the mayor was elected by the city commission.
1931 – Frank Mastragani, “The Monkey Man,” died at age 75. One of the colorful characters of Key West for more than 50 years, he first arrived on the island with a hand organ and a monkey. He later had a fruit and vegetable store first on Fleming Street then Duval Street.
1949 – The Key West Latin American Chamber of Commerce was formed by 12 citizens of Key West who wanted better understanding and commerce with Cuba and other Latin American countries.
1949 – Voters approved a $500,000 bond to improve the Monroe County School System.
1978 – Federal Judge William O. Mehrtens ruled that the 11 stilt houses built in the shallow water to the west of Key West must be removed.
1987 – A hurricane that was called “Feeble Floyd” passed over Key West and the eye of the storm traveled the length of the Keys from west to east. The Category 1 storm left most of the Keys without electricity and cable TV but very little other damage.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library
Image: Stilt houses in the Lakes west of Key West in June 1970. Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic. Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library. https://www.flickr.com/photos/keyslibraries/7562604120