1899 - Judge J. Vining Harris held an open house at his new home at the ocean end of Duval Street. The house was almost complete, and the family was expected to move in soon.
1920 – The Casa Marina Hotel opened for its first season. It was owned by the Florida East Coast Hotel Company, part of the Flagler System that also owned the Florida East Coast Railroad.
1931 – The USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” the oldest ship in the Navy, was welcomed to Key West by a crowd of more than 600 who witnessed her moor at Porter Docks. Captain R.T. Menner, Commander of the Naval Base, and Mayor Leslie A. Curry welcomed the ship and crew to the city.
1938 – The formal opening dinner and dance was held at the Casa Marina Hotel. The charge was $2.50 per person.
1954 – Key West Police Chief Bienvenido Perez said the KWPD would continue their traditional policy of offering free rides home for residents and visitors who imbibed too heavily during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
1956 – First Lady Mamie Eisenhower arrived in Key West to spend the holiday with the President, who was on the island recuperating from heart trouble.
2014 – Monroe County Director of Airports Peter Horton retired after 15 years on the job. His parting advice to successor Don DeGraw was, “If anything goes wrong, blame it on me.”
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The Southernmost House at 1400 Duval Street, home of Judge J. Vining Harris, ca. 1900. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.