1907 – The Florida East Coast Railway steamer St. Lucie left Key West for Long Key with a crowd of men. The railroad had announced 100 men were needed for construction efforts, so all the railroad workers in the Key West jail were released to go help. They were kept under surveillance until the steamer left.
1922 – Key West fish houses were expecting a strong season, as orders had already been placed to keep them busy through March. Crews were arriving to work on the kingfishing smacks and get them in good condition.
1946 – President Harry Truman submerged to 440 feet off the Florida Keys in a captured German submarine manned by a U.S. Navy crew.
1954 – The crew filming “The Rose Tattoo” closed production and left Key West after the final scenes were shot at the Mardi Gras Club on Duval Street.
1964 – Barbie, a three-year-old sea lion that had escaped from a Miami movie set, was found by a shrimp fisherman in Barnes Sound near Key Largo. Barbie approached the shrimper and clapped her flippers, begging for food. Barbie ate, then promptly fell asleep on deck. Her owners were eventually located.
1967 – In the Key West run-off election Charles Pritchard and Bob Dean were elected to the commission.
1978 – Filming started on a movie about the life of Capt. Tony Tarracino.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Unloading kingfish boats at Key West. Image from a postcard mailed in 1915. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.