1860 – Capt. James M. Brannan, commanding officer of the U.S. Army at Key West, requested advice from Washington as to whether he should fight to hold Fort Taylor or allow rebel forces to take it, since it appeared inevitable that Florida would secede from the Union.
1896 – News of the December 7 death of Lt. General Antonio Maceo, second in command of the Cuban Army of Independence, reached Key West’s Cuban community, but most refused to believe it.
1940 – Even though the United States would not enter World War II for another year, the war came close to Key West when the British Navy sank the German merchant ship Rhein about 45 miles west of the Dry Tortugas.
1974 – The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority approved construction of a reverse osmosis water plant in North Key Largo to serve the Largo Brand Corporation’s planned development of 2,700 residential units plus a marina, motel, and businesses.
1975 – CBS News was reported to be looking for the body of missing former Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared mysteriously on July 29. An informant had told CBS that Hoffa’s body “was encased in concrete, lying on the ocean floor in 12 feet of water two and half miles off Key West.” Nothing was found.
1986 – Over 1,000 fans attended opening night at Berenson’s Key West Greyhound Track on Stock Island, and they wagered $74,414 on dog races.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: An aerial view of the Dog Track on Stock Island, ca. 1980. From the Dale McDonald Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.