April 13

Key West Mayor Louis Eisner and Martha Eisner with a U.S. Census worker, 1950.

1892 – The Key West Library Association was organized, with Judge James W. Locke as president, Mary A. Taylor, secretary and J. Fogarty, treasurer. Mrs. William Delacy was the Librarian. The Association maintained a library of 1,200 volumes and a free reading room, supported by dues and fees of members and patrons. The facility was in the Masonic Temple on Simonton Street.

1898 – Water was being brought to Key West from Tampa to meet increased demand caused by the military build-up resulting from the loss of the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor.

1967 – Cecil Bain was chosen as jury foreman in a civil trial in Circuit Court, the first African American to serve as jury foreman in Monroe County.

1970 – Many buildings and a car were destroyed in a fire at Santini’s porpoise training facility on Grassy Key. Despite the damages, Conch Key and Marathon Volunteer Fire Departments were credited with preventing a complete disaster. Santini’s was home to “Mitzi,” star of the popular television show “Flipper.”  

1971 – The charter members of the Key West Tree Commission were named by the City Commission. The members were Peggy Mills, Marie Pinder, Merili McCoy, and Katie Salsbury.

2010 – After having had the lowest census participation rate in Florida in 2000, Monroe County had the highest for 2010. A program of door-to-door census takers was credited with boosting participation to 99 percent in Key West and 87 percent in other parts of the county.

Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

Image: Key West Mayor Louis Eisner and Martha Eisner with a U.S. Census worker, 1950. Jeff Brodhead Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.