1863 – A correspondent from Key West wrote that because of a fear of yellow fever, “Steamers pass by us both ways with no more of ceremony or notice than occasionally to stop at Sand Key and leave us mail…”
1876 – St. James Missionary Baptist Church was founded by Reverend McIntosh and Black immigrants who settled in Key West from other areas of the South.
1899 – Key West reported 15 new cases of yellow fever and one more death from the disease. To date, the number of cases from this outbreak stood at 278.
1910 – The mean temperature for the month of August was determined to be 82 degrees: The highest temperature was 92 degrees on the 29th and the lowest was 72 on the 31st.
1917 – Florida Governor Sidney Catts removed Monroe County Sheriff Clements Jaycocks from office for “malfeasance in office and neglect of duty in not enforcing the law.” A.H. McInnis was commissioned to replace him.
1921 – Herman Wolkowsky purchased property at the corner of Duval and Southard streets, where he planned to erect a two-story concrete structure, with full glass facing both streets, to house his new furniture store.
1944 – Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph finished distribution of 2,993 copies of the new phone directory. The number of directories was restricted because of the wartime shortage of paper.
1945 – The population from the 1945 Florida State Census for Monroe County was 18,718, of which 17,774 lived in Key West.
1945 – Radio station WKWF, owned by John Spottswood, began its first broadcast giving hurricane warnings every 15 minutes with Mr. Spottswood as the announcer.
1975 – Abraham E. Golan died while on vacation in Italy. In 1949 Golan, Vincent Conley and Charles Helberg bought most of the eastern end of Key West. He built the Key Ambassador Motel on South Roosevelt and the Ramada Inn on North Roosevelt.
1976 – County Commissioner Harry Harris, who lost his bid for re-election, submitted his resignation to the Governor. Harris was first elected to the commission in 1942.
1988 – Little Palm Island, a luxury resort on Munson Island off Ramrod Key, opened for business.
Information compiled by Tom Hambright, Historian Emeritus, and Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 312-314 Olivia St., Key West; Tract 3, Sqr 3, Pt Lot 4, circa 1965. Photo by the Monroe County Property Appraiser’s Office. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.