1836 – Several green-painted water casks came floating into Key West Harbor on the flood tide. It was feared they were indicators of a vessel that had sunk.
1880 – Dr. William C. Glazier of the U.S. Marine Hospital Service at Key West died after contracting yellow fever during the performance of his medical duties.
1926 – From this date forward, F.E.C. Overseas Railroad trains 98 & 99 would stop at Long Key for half an hour so that passengers could get lunch.
1940 – The Fleet Sonar School was established at the Naval Station. This school would play an important part in training sonar operators to man the ships that defeated the German U-boats in World War II. After the war, and until the early 1970’s, the school would train thousands of U.S. and allied Naval students.
1986 – A 43.5-acre tract of land on Big Pine Key known as Ocean Bluff was purchased by the Trust for Public Land for conveyance to the National Key Deer Refuge. For four years, developers had hoped to build condominiums and a marina on the property, but their plans met local resistance.
Information compiled by the late Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The four buildings of the Fleet Sonar School at Naval Station Key West, 1960s. Ida Woodward Barron Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center