Today in Keys History – April 25, 2024
1832 – John J. Audubon arrived at Indian Key on the Revenue Cutter Marion.
1926 – Confederate Memorial Day was observed by the Stephen R. Mallory chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy at the Confederate memorial in Bayview Park. Hymns and readings preceded a memorial address by Rev. W.K.E. James. The decoration of Confederate graves in the Key West Cemetery followed.
1930 – With the Key West Garden Club soon to implement an island beautification program, Key West and Monroe County officials were reviewing laws against domestic animals roaming free. “It is worse than useless to attempt any beautification work as long as hogs and cows are allowed to run at large,” said County Commissioner W.R. Porter.
1939 – Dr. John Folk was recovering after having spent three days lost in the wilds of Key Largo without food, water, or shelter. Folk, a naturalist who had set out in search of tree snails, had been found the day before by federal agricultural workers.
1975 – Key West’s first Bicentennial project, the Conch Tour Train depot at the corner of Duval and Front streets, was dedicated.
1980 – The Coast Guard ordered extra cutters to the Florida Straits to handle the increased flow of refugees from Cuba. This was the beginning of the largest peacetime operation in Coast Guard history.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: Conch Train depot on Front Street at Duval Street in 1976. Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.