1904 – The new St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Truman Avenue was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. W.J. Kenny, D.D., Bishop of St. Augustine. Afterward, solemn high mass was celebrated by Reverend Father A.B. Friend, pastor of the church. Music for the event was provided by Ayala’s orchestra, accompanied by the grand organ.
1906 – Captain S. J. Wolf was in command of Company I, 2nd Battalion of the Florida National Guard that met at the Armory at corner of White and Southard streets. The lieutenants were J.H. Curry and Louis Louis.
1906 – Conductors and motormen of the Key West Streetcar Company were on strike after motorman Louis Pinder was fired for refusing to carry a group of African American patrons. The strikers wanted Pinder reinstated; that Blacks not be allowed as customers; and wages to be increased and overtime paid.
1950 – Residents of Billygoat Alley petitioned the city to change the name to Hibiscus Lane. The request was approved by City Manager Dave King.
1974 – Monroe County Commissioners approved a record-breaking county budget of $11.225 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
1994 – Pilots and mechanics from Cuba arrived at the Marathon Airport to retrieve a crop-duster bi-plane that a group of refugees had used to escape from the island nation 10 days earlier.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, September 1906. Photo by E. Lowe Pierce from the Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.