1826 – A brig sailing from Havana to Boston wrecked near the Carysfort lightship and went to pieces. Part of its cargo of coffee and tobacco was saved and carried to Key West.
1841 – Jacob Housman, proprietor of Indian Key, died “in consequence of a blow received in the upsetting of a boat the day before.”
1865 – Military forces at Key West and the Dry Tortugas were put on alert as it was believed Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet were planning to escape by water from mainland Florida and might pass through the area.
1926 – Two men attempted to break into the Key West Custom House by drilling a 12-inch diameter hole through the basement wall, hoping to access the area where liquor, jewelry, cigars, narcotics and other seized goods were kept. A night watchman encountered the men and fired shots at them, but they escaped via the waterfront.
1973 – A Georgia development company was negotiating to buy the Casa Marina, with the intent of converting it to condominiums. A spokesman for the developer said, “Into the existing structure once operated as a hotel, we will construct approximately 60 luxurious condominium apartments for sale to families in high income brackets.”
1984 – Arthur Lujan, Sr. announced plans to build a boating-oriented resort hotel on undeveloped land adjacent to the lagoon at the entrance to Key Haven.
2014 – The Monroe County Commission adopted a policy of not hiring new employees who use tobacco products. Existing county employees would be given until the beginning of 2016 to quit using tobacco.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Aerial view of the Casa Marina of the Florida East Coast Hotels, ca. 1970. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.