April 19

Monroe Theatre at 623 Duval Street and Cuban Trinity Church, Key West, ca. 1915.

1912 – The Monroe Theater at 623 Duval was screening the 1911 Irish feature “Arrah-na-pogue,” with admission at 10, 15 or 20 cents, based on seating. The Airdome at 509 Duval Street in Key West was showing the 1903 film “The Great Train Robbery.” Admission was 10 cents for unlimited viewing.

1917 – Fire destroyed 18 houses known as the Murray Property at the corner of United and Thomas streets in Key West.

1947 – With little understanding of how polio was spread, Monroe County health officials urged residents to clean up their yards and that “any places where flies and mosquitoes breed should be eliminated,” as a way of combatting the crippling disease.

1961 – With the unfolding invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro forces at the Bay of Pigs, Key West was feeling related effects: Four Navy destroyers arrived for a “routine training exercise” and stationed themselves south of the island, and journalists from around the world began arriving in case the action escalated.

1990 – French President Francois Mitterand and President George H.W. Bush met at Ocean Reef on Key Largo. They proposed a summit meeting of the 16 NATO allies to discuss the changing face of post-Soviet Europe.

2010 – The Florida Bay Stewardship Fund was established to raise money geared towards helping the troubled bay between the Upper Florida Keys and the mainland, which had recently suffered multiple devastating algae blooms.

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

Image: Monroe Theatre at 623 Duval Street and Cuban Trinity Church, Key West, ca. 1915. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.