1909 – Key Wester Herbie “Dutchy” Melbourne escaped from the Florida state penitentiary. Melbourne had killed Key West police officer Clarence Till in 1904, for which he served one year. In 1908, he was convicted of robbing and torching the Cortez cigar factory.
1911 – The Monroe County Tax Collector had issued over 1,700 poll tax receipts and, with another 800 being tax-exempt, over 2,500 voters had qualified for the upcoming election. It was anticipated that number would grow to 3,000 before the registration books closed in three days.
1914 – Livingston W. Bethel died in Key West at the age of 69. He had served as Mayor of Key West from 1877 to 1880. In 1880, he was elected Lt. Governor of Florida as running mate for Governor W.D. Bloxham. Later he served as U.S. District Attorney for the United States Court, Southern District of Florida, Criminal Court Judge and Circuit Court Judge.
1955 – Calling U.S. 1 between Key West and Miami a “killer highway,” a Miami developer called for a superhighway to the mainland. The highway would have two lanes from Key West to Marathon, four lanes to Upper Key Largo, then six lanes to Miami.
1962 – The Federal Aviation Administration constructed a temporary control tower at Key West International Airport overnight. In addition, many military personnel arrived in town over the weekend.
2014 – Key West city commissioners refused an $85,000 study on where to build a new parking garage. Instead, they directed staff to develop plans for a two to four-story garage adjacent to where a new fire station was being built at Angela and Simonton streets.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Key West International Airport in October 1962, when the control tower was being built. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.