1835 – Lt. Gabriel O’Brine of the Revenue Cutter Washington, after pigeon hunting at Key Vaca, went for a sail in a small boat and was carried away by a sudden wind squall. Search parties looked for him for two days but had no success.
1900 – In the Key West city elections Mayor George L. Bartlum was reelected without opposition. Other winners were George B. Phillips, city clerk; C.R. Clark, Marshall; William Weatherford, tax collector; Rutlege Curry, tax assessor; W.H. Williams, treasurer; Hyam G. Fulford, street commissioner; George W. Reynolds, election commissioner; J.M. Phillips, election commissioner; Alfred Lowe, election commissioner. The aldermen elected were George M. Bryson, Francisco Fleitas, John Schurer, Charles Shavers, Josh Curry, C.F. Kemp, Charles R. Pierce, Thomas E. Roberts and Willis Bethel.
1906 – James R. Shackelford, a leader of Key West’s African American community, died after a short illness. He had a grocery store at the corner of Duval and Petronia streets for many years. He was buried from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he was a member.
1907 – George H. Saunders of Key West died in the harbor. Saunders was on a turtle fishing voyage and was lifting a large turtle onto another boat when he “received a severe strain.” His crew rushed to get him to town for help, but he died off Fort Taylor.
1922 – Monroe County Sheriff Roland Curry and deputy Herman Albury discovered 48 demijohns of aguardiente in a remote shack on Big Pine Key. The lawmen had to carry the large bottles of illicit liquor more than half a mile to where their boat was anchored. The owner of the shack was unknown, and no arrest was made.
1944 – Rosabell Bethel was chosen Miss Key West 1944 at a festival held at the city stadium and presented with a $20 war bond.
1953 – Monroe County schools had 4,485 students, a new record high. Key West High School had the most pupils with 1,082; the Grace Jones Negro School in Marathon the fewest with 14.
1972 – The new facilities at Smathers Beach in Key West were dedicated by the Mayor and city commissioners.
2015 – The “Oro Gold” cosmetics shop at 518 Duval Street was being investigated by code enforcement officials after a customer complained his credit card had been charged $3,225 for a $423 purchase.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: First day of school, 31 Aug 1953, Reynolds School. Mickey, Bob McCowan, Billy Harris and Gordon Lew Smith, Jr. Collection of Mary Louisa Porter Grooms. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.