1859 – A fire began in the warehouse of L.M. Shaefer near the corner of Front and Duval streets. Apart from two houses, the fire destroyed every building in the area bounded by Front, Greene, Simonton and Whitehead streets.
1923 – Sixteen Greek spongers were arrested by Monroe County Sheriff Roland Curry and a posse of deputies, citizens, and fishermen, for using diving equipment in “forbidden waters.” Four boats loaded with sponges were seized. Curry said he was determined to end sponge diving in the Keys.
1976 – Singleton Corporation announced they had bought Sea Farms, Inc. and Thompson & O’Neal Shrimp Company. The purchase included most of the waterfront of Key West Bight.
1989 – Key West City Commissioners approved an affordable housing project for 80 people at the site of the proposed Key West Shopping Center at 2800 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
1994 – MTV hosts Daisy Fuentes and Ed Marques were filming at Smathers Beach in Key West. The segments they shot would be used to kick off the music channel’s summer programming.
2014 – Residents distressed by a particularly foul odor of in the area of Rockland Key learned that relief was imminent. The smell came from a container that held an experimental shark repellent, the main ingredient of which was rotting sharks, and the owners promised to move it to a more remote location.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Greek Sponge Fishermen at Key West, ca.1920. Keystone Glass Slide. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.