1862 – The “Union ladies” of Key West presented the Army chaplain with a U.S. flag to raise over the regimental church. As it was raised, an artillery salute was fired, the crowd cheered, and speeches followed.
1865 – Key West was struck by a powerful, slow-moving hurricane that caused terrible damage to buildings and wharves, destroyed most of the island’s trees, and sank dozens of ships.
1922 – Key Largo tomato growers had an exceptional season and were expecting to earn $250,000 on 250 acres under cultivation – the best yield in the state.
1953 – The Monroe County Health Unit reported the 54th case of polio case of the year with five deaths.
1962 – President Kennedy in a speech to the nation ordered a quarantine of Cuba because of the Russian missiles on the island. The local military was in the highest state of readiness as more troops arrived to support the quarantine.
1965 – A group of 89 Cuban refugees arrived at Key West in a converted Cuban Coast Guard patrol boat.
1974 – The E.K. Corporation began filming “92 in the Shade” based on Thomas McGuane’s book. The movie was set in Key West and starred Peter Fonda, Margot Kidder, Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton, Elizabeth Ashley and others.
Information compiled by the late Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Burgess Meredith, left, and Peter Fonda filming “92 In The Shade” in 1975. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.