Today in Keys History – May 8, 2024
1850 – Key West Wreckers were trying to save the Belgian brig Havana Packet, which had gone ashore near Caesar’s Creek, North Key Largo. Most of the brig’s cargo of sugar, tobacco, and cigars was lost.
1861 – Major Wm. French, commanding officer at Key West, forced the Key of the Gulf newspaper to stop publication, “because it was uttering treasonable and threatening language against the judiciary and other United States officers.”
1905 – The Key West Council of the Knights of Columbus was organized.
1929 – Miss Mollie Parker of Key West was admitted to practice as counselor, solicitor, advocate and proctor before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
1956 – State Representative Bernie C. Papy was re-elected by a 4,319 to 2,901 majority over Bill Chappell.
1987 – City Electric System announced that the electric tie-line to the mainland had been successfully energized.
2009 – Nearly 100 Key West residents gathered at the Metropolitan Community Church to plan for an upcoming anti-gay protest by religious extremist Fred Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church. On advice from KWPD Chief Donie Lee, everyone agreed to simply ignore the demonstration.
Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.
Image: The Knights of Columbus in the 1960s. Photo by Don Pinder. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.