1830 – Jacob Housman arrived at Indian Key from Key West and reported, “that [Key West] continues very sickly – no business of any kind doing, most of the stores are shut up and no money in the place. The Judge, Marshal and Collector had left the island for short time in consequence of the sickness.”
1912 – President Taft invited delegates from all foreign nations to Key West to celebrate the completion of the Overseas Railroad on January 22. Formal acceptances had so far been received from Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Uruguay.
1952 – Mrs. George Lemay, 21-year-old Canadian beauty, disappeared while fishing with her husband off Tom’s Harbor bridge. Her husband was under investigation but maintained that she went to the car, and he never saw her again. Without a body or any evidence of a crime she was listed as missing, and no trace was ever found.
1989 – Monroe County Commissioners voted to purchase Key West’s Truman School for $937,000 for use as county offices.
1991 – The sheriff’s 57-bed Marathon Detention Facility opened.
1992 – The San Carlos Institute reopened after a six-year renovation. Institute President Rafael Peñalver, who supervised the work, introduced guest speaker Senator Bob Graham.
1995 – A large number of Keys residents advised federal authorities against automating Key West’s National Weather Service office. They preferred that it remain staffed with people connected to the Keys communities, and who would be on hand during emergency situations.
1998 – Key West was selling residential parking stickers for $5 and expected to start enforcing the reserved residential plan by the middle of the month.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Division Street (Truman) School in Key West, ca. 1930. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.