1848 – During a voyage from Key West to Boston, the crew of the bark Zangari discovered a stowaway slave onboard. A passing Charleston-bound schooner was hailed, and permission was requested to turn the runaway over to them, which was granted.
1926 – Roland Curry, sheriff of Monroe County, who had been injured two days before when he was caught between a capsized boat and the rocks on the shore of the Bahama Islands, died at his residence in the jail building.
1955 – The Navy announced plans to build 83 housing units on the Naval Station at the end of United Street on land leased to Monroe County and used Ocean View Park, a segregated beach for African Americans.
1984 – After a six-week undercover investigation, Monroe County Sheriff’s officers raided Stu’s Bar on 3rd Avenue in Stock Island and arrested eight employees and patrons for illegal sales of cocaine and marijuana.
1991 – Queen Elizabeth II of England visited the Fort Jefferson National Monument at the Dry Tortugas, where she was welcomed by Monroe County Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey.
2009 – A recently-seized self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel caught carrying 7 tons of cocaine from Colombia was transferred from Key West’s Joint Interagency Task Force facility to Eglin Air Force Base for inspection and analysis.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Queen Elizabeth II of England with husband Prince Philip and other dignitaries, including Monroe County Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey, touring Fort Jefferson on May 18, 1991. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.