1905 – Key Wester Charles Kelly died mysteriously while on a woodcutting expedition at the mainland Monroe County settlement of Flamingo. Kelly was working on shore with two other men, when he told them he was going to the boat. When Kelly failed to return, his colleagues went to investigate and found him lying dead in the bottom of the vessel. A coroner’s jury determined he died of natural causes.
1920 – Florida Governor Sidney Catts appointed his youngest son Rozier D. Catts to be harbormaster for the port of Key West.
1926 – Florida Governor John Martin appointed Norberg Thompson, Paul Boysen, and Clark Stearns to the newly-created Monroe Water District. The district’s purpose was to construct a water pipeline from the mainland to Key West.
1936 – While hurrying to assist with a blaze, Key West Fire Chief Ralph Pinder barely missed driving into a herd of dairy cows crossing Duval Street at the intersection of Angela.
1954 – The tower of Key West’s Old City Hall began to be demolished, and contractors expected that the job would take about a month to complete. The tower was being pulled down because engineers feared structural defects put it in danger of collapse.
2009 – After a contentious, 3-hour debate, Key West City Commissioners voted 4-3 to institute mandatory recycling throughout the city. After a 1-year “education period,” citations would be issued for noncompliance.
2009 – The first lionfish to be found in Keys waters was discovered by a recreational diver near the Benwood wreck off Key Largo. National Marine Sanctuary staff quickly removed the invasive creature.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Old City Hall on Greene Street. C 1960. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center