1898 – The U.S. Atlantic Fleet arrived off Key West for winter training. The Battleship Maine, which had been in Key West since November got underway to join the fleet.
1912 – Key West continued to celebrate the completion of the railroad. At 11 a.m. a parade marched down Duval Street. In the evening, a banquet was held at the Marine Barracks with Mayor J.N. Fogarty as toastmaster. A message from President William H. Taft was read, and Henry M. Flagler gave a speech.
1917 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the Navy, with members of his staff paid an official visit to the Naval Station and inspected the facilities. After the inspection they left for Havana on the Destroyer MacDonald.
1924 – A hunting party from Key West reported that deer were plentiful on Big Pine Key, though they were difficult to shoot. One herd of deer was observed swimming from Doctor’s Arm to No Name Key; others were thought to be as far west as Boca Chica Key.
1935 – The Key West Philatelic Society was formed with headquarters at 729 United Street. The new stamp-collecting organization planned to meet every Friday evening.
1954 – Florida’s acting Governor Charley Johns dedicated the new swimming pool at Key Colony Beach.
2000 – Creative types in the Lower Keys were discovering the “dog track district” on Stock Island: Artists and artisans were taking advantage of relatively inexpensive workspaces in the old dog racing complex and along the nearby Safe Harbor waterfront.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Key West Police Department marching on Duval Street during the Railroad Celebration Parade, January 23, 1912. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.