1980 – The Key West fishing boats Dos Hermanos and Blanche III arrived in Key West with 48 Cuban refugees, which began the Mariel Boatlift.

1970 – The USS Quillback (SS 525) was open to the public for tours at Naval Station Key West’s Pier 1.

1975 – Robert “Speedy” Neal pitched a perfect game in a Little Major League contest at Key West’s Peter Dopp Field.

1930 – The Lighthouse Service determined that small, battery-powered elecric light were a feasible replacement for those lit by gas.

1935 – A resolution by aFlorida Congressman to designate Key West Naval base a winter station for submarines met opposition from the Navy.

1993 – Key West resident and Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Hersey died at age 78.

1925 – A daily silent period for the naval radio station at Key West was authorized, to end interference with local radio stations.

Many people were traveling by train from Miami to Knights Key “solely for the novelty of the ride over the sea by rail.”

1925 – The Navy took custody of Clinton Place at the entrance to Naval Station Key West and assumed maintenance of the monument.

1924 – The first batch of concrete for the walls of the San Carlos Opera House was poured.

1930 – The Key West Chamber of Commerce had requested use of a U.S. government airplane to help eradicate mosquitoes.

1935 – The cabanas at Rest Beach were fully booked by winter visitors for the season.

1953 – The Navy dedicated the baseball field at Naval Station Key West in honor of Key Wester and Marine Sgt. Norris A. Walker.

1946 – The U.S. Navy announced that a submarine squadron consisting of one tender and 10 submarines would be based in Key West.

1983 – Fire destroyed the Fountains Restaurant in the landmark Cuban Club building on Duval at the corner of Amelia Street.

1962 – The new Key West City Hall on Angela Street was dedicated. State Senator Elmer Friday of Fort Myers was the keynote speaker.

1954 – The 53-unit Southernmost Motel at the corner of Duval and South streets was nearing completion.

1919 – The city council of Havana voted to donate a stage curtain for the new San Carlos Institute building at Key West.