1862 – To combat a growing yellow fever outbreak, orders were issued that all streets and public grounds were to be kept clean and free of decaying animal or vegetable matter. All property owners and occupants were to keep their premises clean.
1887 – A yellow fever epidemic continued at Key West, with four new cases reported. Over the previous few weeks there had been 191 cases in total, with 90 cured, 43 dead, and 58 still sick.
1914 – Monroe County Commissioners were exploring the idea of connecting Stock Island and Key West with a road extending from the head of Flagler Avenue. They wanted to employ a road overseer and use inmates from the county jail for the labor. Such a road had long been desired by many.
1924 – For over a year the Florida East Coast Railroad had procrastinated on a request by the city of Key West to repair Trumbo Road, leading from the intersection of Grinnell and Caroline streets to the train depot. The road was filled with ruts and was barely passable.
1945 – J. Roland Adams reported that the federal government’s wonder chemical, DDT, had been used against the mosquitoes with marvelous results. He reported that within 10 minutes of spraying, vast swarms of files and mosquitoes disappeared.
1946 – Augustin Parla, the aviation pioneer who made the second flight from Key West to Cuba, took his own life in Havana.
1979 – The Monroe County Commission approved building the TV Translator System to provide free television throughout the entire county.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Trumbo Point railroad yard and docks in 1921. The blimp hanger of the former Naval Air Station is in the background. The Heritage House Collection, donated by the Campbell, Poirier, and Pound families. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.