1829 – A duel was fought between Charles E. Hawkins of the Mexican Navy and William Allison McRea, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Four shots were exchanged. Mr. Hawkins was wounded in his wrist and Mr. McRea was hit in his thigh. The cause of the duel was Hawkins had seen McRea leaving his wife’s bedroom via the window.
1849 – The schooner Relampago, bound to San Francisco with 30 passengers, put into Key West in a leaky condition. When it became apparent the vessel could not complete the voyage, the passengers sued for either the return of their fare or the ownership of the vessel and its equipment and cargo.
1908 – The Rodef Shalom Jewish Temple was dedicated at the corner of Southard and Simonton streets in Key West. Despite a downpour of rain, there were many attendees, both Jewish and Gentile. Rabbi Dr. Shampo delivered the address.
1946 – Keys Memorial Post No.145 of the American Legion at Tavernier was presented its charter.
1965 – The Monroe County School Board ordered total integration of all public schools in the county and closing of the Burlington school on Key Largo.
1967 – Legendary Florida A&M University football coach Jake Gaither spoke to the Key West Rotary Club. Gaither noted many challenges and successes for the Black community and advised that “the game that isn’t worth winning isn’t worth playing.”
1994 – The Florida Keys Tourist Development Council OK’d more than $1 million toward the renovation of Key West’s White Street Pier. The money would go to restoring water flow by cutting and bridging two sections of the 1,100-foot-long structure and making the pier fully pedestrian.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The White Street Pier on June 9, 2006. Dale McDonald Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.