1835 – Lieut. D.A. Manning of the U.S. Army, stationed at Key West for many years, died on the island.
1928 – Ninety-nine-year-old Manuel Avalo, Sr. was quite ill, and it was feared he would not see his 100th birthday. Avalo was born in Cuba in December of 1828, and he moved to Key West with his family in the 1860s.
1933 – Willie Saunders of Key West was arraigned on a charge of practicing voodoo against his wife. After an argument, Saunders had performed incantations to Obeah and then arranged a variety of amulets amongst her clothing, terrifying the woman.
1936 – Flotsam from the British motorship Nunoca was found at Duck Key, Conch Key, and Key Largo. Nunoca had left Grand Cayman 20 days earlier, bound for Tampa, but disappeared. Some of the pieces bore marks of fire and signs of violent shock, suggesting the missing vessel might have exploded.
1938 – The quota for government relief was increased for Monroe County, with 178 names added to the list of 1,120 persons already receiving assistance.
1973 – The Key West senior major All-Stars won the Florida State Championship with a 3 to 2 victory over Panama City in a game played in Tallahassee.
1980 – The Mariel Boatlift continued to bring refugees from Cuba to Key West. Arrivals for the week pushed the totals since April to 117,000.
1983 – Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the shopping center on Key Deer Boulevard on Big Pine Key.
1997 – Carol MacLaren drew an envelope with the word “yes” to become Layton’s third mayor. MacLaren and Hal Halenza each received 45 votes in the runoff election and in accordance with Florida law were required draw lots for the winner.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The shrimp boat Wayward Wind III and others at Pier B during the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. From the Ida Woodward Barron Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.