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Keys History


November 2
1935 – While restoring the Key West Art Center located in the Caroline Lowe house at 303 Duval Street, carpenters discovered a hollowed-out rail on the widow’s walk. During the Civil War, Lowe often flew a Confederate flag from the walk, but whenever Union forces tried to seize the banner, they could never find it. It was thought this hollow was the hiding place.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 1, 20252 min read


November 1
1935 – The ferry Florida Keys left No Name Key at 8 a.m., and two hours later the ferry Key West departed Lower Matecumbe Key, both resuming regular service for the Overseas Highway for the first time since the destruction of the Labor Day Hurricane.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 31, 20252 min read


October 31
1960 – After five years of service, the Key West-Havana ferry made its final crossing from Cuba. The official reason for the suspension of service was a lack of patrons, but it also came as tensions were increasing between the U.S. and Fidel Castro’s new government.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 30, 20251 min read


October 30
1960 – A team of “petroleum technicians, tool pushers, drillers, and roughnecks” from the California Company arrived in Key West to begin drilling four 6,000-foot test wells near the Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoals.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 29, 20252 min read


October 29
2004 – The State of Florida agreed to buy the Harris School on Southard Street in Key West under its “Florida Forever” program. The plan was to lease the historic property to the Rodel Foundation and The Studios of Key West as an art colony, with Rodel agreeing to restore the building. The Monroe County School District had not decided whether to accept the offer.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 28, 20252 min read


October 28
1975 – Treasure hunter Mel Fisher announced he had purchased Brito’s Boat Yard at 629 Front Street in Key West. He planned to recreate a “pirate village” from 300 years ago on the property, with his replica galleon alongside. There would also be an artifact preservation facility, gold and silversmith shops, and a cocktail lounge.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 27, 20252 min read


October 27
1935 – W.P. Craig announced he was building a wooden dock at the settlement of Craig, located on the railroad right-of-way between Lower Matecumbe Key and Long Key. The bayside structure was to extend out 73 feet and end in a 209-foot-long T-head.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 26, 20252 min read


October 26
1999 – Key West Police planned to crack down on nudity during the weekend’s Fantasy Fest celebrations, noting that “even opaque body paint is not a substitute for clothing.” They planned to use a “firm tolerance” technique and ask nude revelers to cover up before arresting them.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 25, 20252 min read


October 25
2015 – Keys Energy offered the City of Key West its abandoned diesel generator plant, a three-building complex bounded by Angela, Fort, and Geraldine streets. City officials were pleased by the offer, but acceptance of the 100+-year-old “as is” property would ultimately be decided by voters.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 24, 20252 min read


October 24
1925 – The Norwegian steamship Capto arrived in Key West via the Panama Canal to discharge a cargo of 5 million feet of lumber from British Columbia. It was one of the largest lumber shipments in island history.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 23, 20252 min read


October 23
1935 – The Commandant’s residence on the Naval Station in Key West was being refurbished and refurnished in readiness for occupancy by visitors from Washington. Among those anticipated to be staying in the residence was Marvin McIntyre, secretary to President Roosevelt.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 22, 20252 min read


October 22
2010 – After multiple chicken poisonings in Key West and Stock Island over previous days, Lower Keys wildlife organizations were worried about not only the brazenly illegal acts, but also the effects that poisoned feed and tainted carcasses would have on other animals.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 21, 20252 min read


October 21
1962 – As tensions with Cuba increased, the FAA constructed a temporary control tower at Key West International Airport overnight. In addition, many military personnel arrived over the weekend.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 20, 20252 min read


October 20
1993 – Renowned author James Leo Herlihy died in California. Herlihy had lived in Key West from 1956 to 1972 and was an integral part of the island’s then-burgeoning literary community. Two of his best-known books, both made into movies, were “Midnight Cowboy” and “All Fall Down.”

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 19, 20252 min read


October 19
1901 – City of Key West officials were looking for a new cemetery site, as the existing cemetery was crowded and there was not much room for new burials. It was thought any new location should be some distance from town for sanitary reasons.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 18, 20252 min read


October 17
1975 – City of Key West officials met with members of the Old Island Restoration Commission, and all agreed to an ordinance that would give the OIRC jurisdiction over the construction, repair, or alteration of structures in the city’s historic district.

Keys History Center
Oct 16, 20252 min read


October 16
1985 – The Old Island Restoration Commission approved plans for the conversion of Key West’s De Poo Hospital at 918 Southard Street to Southard Square Condominiums. The redevelopment would blend the existing structures and new construction.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 15, 20251 min read


October 15
1975 – The “Doomsday Atlas” prepared by the U.S. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency showed that the area from Sugarloaf Key to Key West would be devastated in a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union due to an attack on the Naval Air Station at Boca Chica.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 14, 20252 min read


October 14
1960 – Monroe County was second place in the state for the highest percentage of homes with television sets: Of 16,400 residences, 90 percent had TVs. Broward County led with 91 percent.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 13, 20252 min read


October 13
1960 – Monroe County Supervisor of Registration Wm. “Billy” Freeman reported a total of 16,027 registered voters – the most in county history. Of those, 15,407 were Democrats, 516 were Republicans, and 104 were registered as Independents.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 12, 20252 min read
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