1946 – The City of Key West bought South Beach from the Laranaga family for $37,000. The beach would be maintained for public recreation, and an existing soft drink stand would be leased to defray expenses. The city also planned to rebuild the pier at the foot of Duval Street.
1945 – The 30-room North Beach Inn, at the corner of Petronia Street and Palm Avenue, was sold by George Smith for $47,500 to a group of 10 Key West investors. The building had originally been the home of John J. Philbrick.
1949 – The new Monroe County Beach in Key West was dedicated. Judge Thomas S. Caro was the speaker, and Frank Bentley, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, made the formal dedication. The County issued a $350,000 construction bond for the new beach.
2019 – A large majority – 69% – of Key West voters said “Yes” to the city’s purchase of the Key West Citizen building on Northside Drive. The city intended to house its Community Services department there.
1924 – Sponge fleet boats were arriving in Key West after their third trip of the season. The vessels had done well, with virtually all carrying hauls of between 100-150 bunches of sponge.
1924 – Sponge fleet boats were arriving in Key West after their third trip of the season. The vessels had done well, with virtually all carrying hauls of between 100-150 bunches of sponge.
1892 – The Key West Library Association was organized with Judge James W. Locke as president, Mary A. Taylor, secretary, J. Fogarty, treasurer, and Mrs. William Delacy as librarian. The Association maintained a public library of 1,200 volumes housed in the Masonic Temple at 315 Simonton St. and it was supported by dues and fees of patrons.
1975 – The Salgado Brothers grocery at the corner of Eaton and Grinnell streets in Key West closed for good. The grocery, said to be the oldest on the island, had first opened in the 1880s.
A Spanish treasure fleet wrecked off the Florida Keys in 1733, leading to the first newspaper reporting from the Florida Keys.
1902 – The three-masted schooner Cactus was successfully hauled out on the marine railway at Curry and Sons shipyard. The schooner’s hull had been badly damaged, and the repair was expected to employ many men.