Today in Keys History – December 19
1832 – John William Charles Fleeming, one of the four original owners of Key West, died and was buried in St. Paul’s churchyard.
1862 – The Pennsylvania 47th regiment landed at Key West after having been in Hilton Head. Cpl. George Nichols wrote, “Since we was away the 90 and 91st New York Redgements Suffered very Bad. They have lost almost half their Redgements with yellow fever. I tell you it is more deadly than the bullot.”
1907 – T.A. Lumley was awarded a contract to provide feed for the City of Key West’s livestock at the following prices: Mixed oats, $2.19 per hundred; white clipped oats, $2.22; bran, $1.60; timothy hat, $29 per ton.
1927 – Key West Airport was designated a U.S. port of entry.
1998 – Mel Fisher, renowned treasure hunter and Florida Keys icon, died in his Key Haven home at age 76. Fisher spent 16 years searching for the “mother lode” of the Spanish galleon Atocha, which ended successfully in 1985. During that time, he had to overcome government regulations, lawsuits, weather, and the loss of his son and other crew.
2014 – The Florida Keys Outreach Coalition held its 15th annual memorial service to remember those who died in the Keys without homes or anyone to claim their remains. Fifty-three people were honored.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The Memorial in Bayview Park for the soldiers of the 90th and 91st New York Volunteer Regiments who died (mainly from yellow fever) in Key West during the Civil War. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.