1885 – The Key West Board of Trade, the island’s first commercial advocacy organization, was organized with John Jay Philbrick as president.
1937 – President Franklin Roosevelt interrupted his Florida fishing vacation to visit the Dry Tortugas on the yacht Potomac.
1951 – The federal Housing and Home Finance Agency authorized the construction of 100 affordable housing units in Monroe County. The newly built two-bedroom homes would rent for $75 per month and the three-bedroom homes for $85.
1960 – The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Key West had a population of 33,956, and Monroe County outside of Key West had 13,965, for a total of 47,921.
1964 – Many Keys commercial fishermen were complaining that an increased shark population was incompatible with their livelihood. Mackerel and shrimp fishermen, particularly, said that voracious sharks were destroying their nets. Government fisheries experts planned to investigate.
2014 – Developers announced plans to replace the old Checkers fast food restaurant at 2500 North Roosevelt Boulevard with a Starbucks coffee shop.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: An aerial view postcard showing downtown Key West from the north ends of Simonton and Duval Streets, ca. 1960. Gift Theo Victery. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.