1822 – Excerpt from the Logbook of the U.S. Schooner Shark LCDR M.C. Perry commanding. Remarks, Wednesday, September 18th Wind from the Eastward and blowing with considerable velocity. Lat. 17.53 N. Long. 26.15 W. On the Sick List 5. Expenditure of Water 62 1/2 Gallons, Remains on board 2575 Gallons. Exp. Provisions 80 lbs. Pork, 4 Gls. Rice, 4 1/2 Gls. Spirits.
1903 – Colonel Badges relieved Colonel Leary as Commanding Officer of the Key West Army Barracks.
1937 – A plan was approved to remove WPA workers from the Keys and bring them to Key West in case of a hurricane. Coast Guard patrol boats were to be used to move the workers to No Name Key where they would be taken to Key West by automobile.
1949 – A.J. Dion took out a building permit for $20,000 to build a 10-unit motel on Truman Avenue between Simonton and Duval streets.
1953 – The 25th case of polio since the beginning of the year was reported. For three weeks, an average of five cases a week were reported. Of the 15 cases in the three weeks only one involved partial paralysis.
1976 – Governor Reuben Askew appointed Don Schloesser to the Monroe County Commission to fill the remainder of the term of Harry Harris who resigned after he was defeated by Schloesser.
1983 – A group of New York actors, playwrights and theater supporters tried to purchase the late Tennessee Williams’ home in Key West for a museum. The effort failed from the lack of support and problems converting the house to a museum.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, Florida Keys History Center, Monroe County Public Library
Image: Postcard of Dion Motel at 512 Truman Avenue in Key West by Walter Bowers. Gift Mr. and Mrs. Jim Rankar. https://www.flickr.com/photos/keyslibraries/3729000915