Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys

Today in Keys History – Dec. 9, 2022

1930 – The Hydenoil Products Company on Big Pine Key reported that one of its boats brought in a mackerel shark that was 14 1/2 feet in length and 10 feet in circumference with a weight of 1,752 pounds. The company had seven boats in service and on December 8 brought in 111 sharks averaging a little over 300 pounds each. The shark’s skins were used for leather, the liver was processed for the oil and the fins were sold for soup.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 8, 2022

1983 – Preliminary plans for the development of the Truman Annex were unveiled before the Historic Preservation Board. The plan called for the Custom House to be used as the lobby for a hotel complex that would expand to as many as 500 rooms.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 7, 2022

1955 – Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro spoke to a group of about 300 in a parking lot on Stock Island. He had attempted to speak in the city of Key West but was blocked in this effort.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 6, 2022

1960 – The Navy announced that the Blue Angels, the world-famed precision flying team, would return in January for their six-week winter training schedule.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 5, 2022

1900 – The sponge fleet arrived and reported good trips with shares from $85 to $135. The market is lively and the prices given were good. Some of the vessels sold at Tarpon Springs, while others brought the catch here.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 4, 2022

1900 – The sponge fleet arrived and reported good trips with shares from $85 to $135. The market is lively and the prices given were good. Some of the vessels sold at Tarpon Springs, while others brought the catch here.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 3, 2022

1900 – The cigar shipments from Key West were holding their own and the output for the week was expected to be be over a million and a half cigars. The steamer Lampassas sailed for New York with 1,846,000 cigars for that city, besides hundreds of thousand by the steamers to New Orleans and Galveston. The factories were working full force and no labor trouble expected, which gave assurance of a good year.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 2, 2022

1904 – Fred Ewert was hanged for the murder of Frank Whitaker. The gallows was erected behind the Monroe County Jail at the corner of Whitehead and Fleming streets.

Today in Keys History – Dec. 1, 2022

1969 – After 123 years of service, the Key West Lighthouse was turned off by Mrs. Jennie DeBoer. Mrs. DeBoer’s mother was one of the keepers of the Key West Lighthouse.

Today in Keys History – Nov. 30, 2022

1885 – The Key West Board of Trade, the first commercial body, was organized with John Jay Philbrick as president.

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