1860 – William C. Greene died at the Dry Tortugas. He served as mayor of Key West from 1839 to 1840.
1899 – There were two new cases of yellow fever at Key West, accompanied by one death from the disease.
1905 – President Theodore Roosevelt was at Key West onboard the USS West Virginia. A message from Mrs. Roosevelt, wishing him well on his 47th birthday, was delivered to the president via the Key West wireless telegraph.
1923 – Florida sales reports showed that 42,710 gallons of gasoline were sold in Monroe County during the month of August.
1927 – Pan American Airways flew it first flight from the newly constructed Key West International Airport. Pilots Huey Wells and Eddie Musick, carrying 772 pounds of mail, flew the tri-motor Fokker to Havana.
1936 – Claude Pepper, candidate for U.S. Senate, gave two campaign speeches in Key West. He promised that the island would be overrun with visitors once the bridges for the Overseas Highway were completed.
1954 – Actress Anna Magnani arrived at the Casa Marina Hotel for a few days of rest before filming began on the film version of Tennessee Williams’ play “Rose Tattoo.”
1968 – Former Key West police officer E.J. “Duke” Yannacone, who had resigned from the force a week earlier, walked into Dennis Pharmacy and shot his wife and her acquaintance multiple times as they sat in a luncheonette booth. Yannacone then drove to the Sheriff’s office and surrendered. Both victims survived.
Information compiled by the late Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: A signed photo by Claude Pepper to Will Porter. The Heritage House Collection, donated by the Campbell, Poirier and Pound families. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.