1911 – The Riley Brothers Construction Company began work on the new Weather Station at Sand Key, seven miles southwest of Key West.
1921 – The Ocean View Club formed at Key West with the goals of “debating, literary and athletic pursuits, social intercourse among its members, and for mutual improvement and recreation.”
1929 – Malcolm Meacham, 45, financier and developer who owned the eastern end of Key West, jumped to his death from his 11th floor New York apartment window.
1945 – The residents of Marathon raised $400 for the Red Cross War Fund.
1947 – Key West City Manager O.J.S. Ellingson warned that the parents of minors found violating the 9 p.m. curfew would be called into Municipal Court.
1953 – Will R. Porter, 82, one of Key West’s most prominent citizens and scion of one of the island’s pioneer families died in Miami. His father was Dr. J.Y. Porter, Florida’s first health officer, and he was a grandson of William Curry, Florida’s first millionaire. Porter was the former president of Florida First National Bank and at one time was the largest land owner on the Island.
1993 – A fierce winter storm swept thought the Keys uprooting trees, damaging buildings, boats and power lines. The wind reached gusts of 75 m.p.h. at Key West International Airport. The Dry Tortugas reported winds up to 109 mph. The storm also destroyed the “Fat Albert” blimps at United States Air Force Radar Station on Cudjoe Key.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Sand Key Weather Station, Key West, FL. Collection of Rosalie and Bascom Grooms, Sr. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.