Curry’s work history began as humble as any of ours has. He got a job as a clerk in the office of Weever & Baldwin. The position paid $1 a week and also included room and board. He left Key West for several years to fight in the Seminole War, but eventually landed back in Key West, where he began his climb up the corporate ladder in earnest.

He rose in the ranks to become the US quartermaster, and went on to be named a partner in a firm. He eventually ascended to take over the firm in 1861. William Curry had an innate business sense that served him well. He was able to amass a fortune through his various business holdings and investments - a retail mercantile, wrecking, ship building, and of course, his investments in the stock market.

Curry’s story is the epitome of the “American Dream” - rags to riches story, that gives all of us a glimmer of hope. William married his wife, Euphemia and together they raised 8 children. Eventually, 3 of the children formed the William Curry’s Sons Company and ran the family business through that entity. 

William Curry also had a keen eye for real estate, and during the course of his life, he acquired quite a portfolio of some prime Key West real estate. His own personal home, that’s referred to today as The Curry Mansion, was quite impressive. However, the structure that we see standing today is actually the rebuilt version of the home. The original home was virtually all demolished in 1905, and save for the stone hearth and chimney, Milton Curry, a son of William rebuilt the structure entirely. This rebuild included large amounts of then plenteous Date County Pine and lots of ornate and decorative carving that is emblematic of the Georgian revival style. 

The 22 room mansion sits like a Gingerbread castle at 511 Caroline St., and to this very day captivates all who pass by.

At the time of his death, William Curry had become Florida’s first self-made millionaire. With an estate valued at $1.5 million, he was at the time, the riches man in Florida. 

And it was today, Jan. 23, 1896 that William Curry died. He was survived by his wife and 8 children. 

And that’s what happened Today in Key West History.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. You can learn all about our glorious past and what’s currently going on in the beautiful Florida Keys by visiting http://43keys.com.

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Having confirmed its status as a bonafide city by re-inventing itself after the collapse of the wrecking industry, Key West continued to draw an elite class into its vortex. Politicians, Heads of State, writers and more celebrities than you could imagine were making Key West a destination of choice!

During this time, Key West also began making a concerted effort to promote itself as a tourist destination. However, until 1926, there were really no true luxury accommodations to speak of. There were plenty of lavish private homes of the rich and well-heeled, but not all wealthy tourists had access to them. 

The LaConcha Hotel was really the first of its kind in Key West. It was a true luxury hotel, complete with private bathrooms, marble tile and it even had an elevator. The LaConcha remains the tallest building on the island today. 

Located in the heart of the Duval St. Historic district, it is an icon for locals and tourists alike. After its opening, the LaConcha has a history of hosting many famous people, and it remains a favorite spot to view the island - from the top of the tallest building on the island!

You can check out the LaConcha Hotel at https://www.laconchakeywest.com. Book a stay and come see us!

The LaConcha Hotel is one of the few hotels in Key West that have attained the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as being inducted into the Historic Hotels of America program. There are strict requirements to attain both of these designations. The LaConcha has managed to preserve its history and evolve as a modern destination.

It was today, January 22, 1926 that the LaConcha Hotel first opened its doors to the public. There was entertainment and a private dinner attended by 175 well-connected Key Westers! 

And that's what happened Today in Key West History. 

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Where ever you find us, subscribe so that you don't miss a single episode!

However, this description fits one of the most influential men in US history in the 19th century! With many accomplishments and a victory in the Civil War, we could only be talking about Ulysses S. Grant! 

Learn some little known facts about him on Today in Key West History.

It was today, Jan. 21, 1880 that Ulysses S. Grant and rode into town and was the guest of honor at the Jefferson Hotel on Duval St.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

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After that, in 1885, he purchased a shoreline railroad between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, and then he began expanding it toward Miami. Miami was at that time only a very small settlement, not the big metropolis that it is. Now, Flagler had a vision and the vision of his railroad went to Miami. But beyond Miami, he wanted to connect the mainland to the deep port of Key West.

At this time, Key West was a booming city it had more than 10,000 residents and it had the highest concentration of wealth of any city in the country. Flagler might have also had in the back of his mind that if he could connect the railroad to Key West, then he could also connect the railroad to Cuba. His railroad extended to Homestead by 1904, and after that he began work on connecting the entire Florida Keys.

By 1908, the railroad had connected Homestead to Marathon,. Marathon became a boomtown - ships brought their cargoes of Cuban pineapples and limes, and they were loaded on the railway cars and shipped North.

The railroad turnaround from Marathon to Homestead was at the Knights Key Campground. It's just recently been demolished and a brand new resort is still being built right there. It took a whole lot of engineering to overcome that seven mile gap between Marathon and Bahia Honda. During the construction of this section of the railroad, construction work was hampered by devastating hurricanes both in 1909 and 1910.

But on January 22, 1912, Henry Flagler, who was now the ripe old age of 82, finally rode his dream from Homestead to Key West. He jumped in the railroad car and went across 42 stretches of sea over 17 miles of concrete, viaducts, and concrete and steel bridges, over 20 miles of filled calls ways ultimately covering 128 miles from island to island, and it was the culmination of his grand vision.

Henry Flagler entered Key West that day a hero. Henry Flagler died the following year, and probably never knew that his big dream his vision, his flight of fancy had changed the course of the Florida Keys forever.

It was today January the 18th, 1912, that John J. Frawley of the Lubin Manufacturing Company was in Key West to film the arrival of the first train on Henry Flagler's Railroad, and also to get some footage of the other industries of the city.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today, in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. You can find this and other programs as an Alexa flash briefing. You can also find us on YouTube and anywhere you listen to your podcasts. You can also find out more about our glorious past and the Florida Keys and even what's going on right now by visiting http://43keys.com.

Key West's location and climate has a long history of drawing in the top executives, not just from companies but also from the most powerful nation in the world. US presidents have loved Key West for years. One of the most famous visitors was Harry Truman. Harry Truman came to Key West 11 times during his presidency. He always ended up staying at the Navy's officer residence. And that house is now called Truman's Little White House.

Ulysses S. Grant was the first US president to visit Key West. He came in 1880, it was 11 years after leaving office, while traveling with Civil War General, Phil Sheridan. They were on a steamship from New Orleans bound for Havana, but had to stop in Key West for the day. That was during the period when Key West was one of the largest cities in Florida and also one of the wealthiest.

Another Civil War leader, Jefferson Davis had also visited Key West. He stopped by in 1867, the day after he was released from prison on bail. Key West is a good place to go when you just get out of jail!

In his first term as President, Grover Cleveland also stopped by Key West in 1889. He spent a few hours in the city and he was shown around the island in carriages, and there was a public reception held at the Russell House.

William Howard Taft came to Key West on Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway. The year was 1912. That was just 11 months after the railway opened and President Taft was on his way to inspect the Panama Canal. But of course he had to come to Key West first and then get on a ship.

And Calvin Coolidge also stopped by Key West on his way back from a meeting in Cuba. That year was 1928 and he had just finished speaking at a big conference in Cuba.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Key West six times between 1917 and 1939, he was practically a snowbird. His first stop was when he was young Assistant Secretary of the Navy and he was en route to Cuba as well. After Roosevelt was stricken with polio, he spent several winters in the Keys on a houseboat. And then he also came back to Key West as president in 1939. It was a very different ride then as he was coming down the overseas highway, in an open air convertible.

And you can be sure that Key West always appreciated this type of attention from the chief executive, as many of our streets in Key West our name for Presidents - there's Truman Avenue, there's Einsenhower and Kennedy Dr.

Dwight Eisenhower first came to Key West before he became president. He was the Presiding Officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when he came and he spent 21 days at the Little White House, trying to recover from an illness. Guess who recommended that he do that? You got it - Harry Truman. Eisenhower also returned in 1955 when he was recovering from a heart attack. You're seeing the theme here. People love to come to Key West to recuperate from all the ills of the rest of the world.

President Kennedy came through a trip on Key West back in March of 1961. And he met the British Prime Minister here in Key West for a summit. So prior to Donald Trump visiting at the end of last year, John F. Kennedy's visit to Key West in 1962 was the last time a sitting president came to Key West.

A couple other presidents visited us, but it was after they had left the office. Jimmy Carter came down. Bill Clinton has been here. gGeorge HW Bush had a lovely little fishing hidey hole that he liked to come and do some fishing in Islamorada. We heard a lot about that after he passed away last year many many stories were told about the wonderful interactions]]>When President Donald Trump visited Key West late last year, it was the first time in nearly 55 years for a sitting US president to visit Key West. Prior to that, the last time was when John F. Kennedy stopped by to inspect the defenses of Key West and provide some positive publicity for South Florida. And that was in November of 1962, following the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Key West's location and climate has a long history of drawing in the top executives, not just from companies but also from the most powerful nation in the world. US presidents have loved Key West for years. One of the most famous visitors was Harry Truman. Harry Truman came to Key West 11 times during his presidency. He always ended up staying at the Navy's officer residence. And that house is now called Truman's Little White House.

Ulysses S. Grant was the first US president to visit Key West. He came in 1880, it was 11 years after leaving office, while traveling with Civil War General, Phil Sheridan. They were on a steamship from New Orleans bound for Havana, but had to stop in Key West for the day. That was during the period when Key West was one of the largest cities in Florida and also one of the wealthiest.

Another Civil War leader, Jefferson Davis had also visited Key West. He stopped by in 1867, the day after he was released from prison on bail. Key West is a good place to go when you just get out of jail!

In his first term as President, Grover Cleveland also stopped by Key West in 1889. He spent a few hours in the city and he was shown around the island in carriages, and there was a public reception held at the Russell House.

William Howard Taft came to Key West on Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway. The year was 1912. That was just 11 months after the railway opened and President Taft was on his way to inspect the Panama Canal. But of course he had to come to Key West first and then get on a ship.

And Calvin Coolidge also stopped by Key West on his way back from a meeting in Cuba. That year was 1928 and he had just finished speaking at a big conference in Cuba.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Key West six times between 1917 and 1939, he was practically a snowbird. His first stop was when he was young Assistant Secretary of the Navy and he was en route to Cuba as well. After Roosevelt was stricken with polio, he spent several winters in the Keys on a houseboat. And then he also came back to Key West as president in 1939. It was a very different ride then as he was coming down the overseas highway, in an open air convertible.

And you can be sure that Key West always appreciated this type of attention from the chief executive, as many of our streets in Key West our name for Presidents - there's Truman Avenue, there's Einsenhower and Kennedy Dr.

Dwight Eisenhower first came to Key West before he became president. He was the Presiding Officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when he came and he spent 21 days at the Little White House, trying to recover from an illness. Guess who recommended that he do that? You got it - Harry Truman. Eisenhower also returned in 1955 when he was recovering from a heart attack. You're seeing the theme here. People love to come to Key West to recuperate from all the ills of the rest of the world.

President Kennedy came through a trip on Key West back in March of 1961. And he met the British Prime Minister here in Key West for a summit. So prior to Donald Trump visiting at the end of last year, John F. Kennedy's visit to Key West in 1962 was the last time a sitting president came to Key West.

A couple other presidents visited us, but it was after they had left the office. Jimmy Carter came down. Bill Clinton has been here. gGeorge HW Bush had a lovely little fishing hidey hole that he liked to come and do some fishing in Islamorada. We heard a lot about that after he passed away last year many many stories were told about the wonderful interactions people had with him while he was in Islamorada.

And it was today, January 17 1928, that President Calvin Coolidge and his wife arrived in Key West uponreturning from the sixth Inter-American Conference held in Havan. They arrived by ship. And once they arrive, the mayor showed him around, showed him the Naval Station, the Army barracks, the airport and then they took a ride along beautiful Ocean Avenue, what we call today, North and South atRoosevelt Boulevard.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. You want to learn all about our illustrious past and even what's going on today in Key West, visit http://43keys. com. You can get this program, as well as others, as an Alexa flash briefing. And you can find this on YouTube and anywhere that you listen to podcasts. So don't forget to subscribe and we'll see you over at http://43keys.com.

Both his hands were bandaged and he appeared dazed and he was led ashore as an FBI agent held him firmly by one arm and Sheriff Henry Haskins held the other. The cutter also towed the Dream Girl into port. Her deck was spattered with blood. "I murdered them and threw them overboard." Foster told Coast Guardsmen whenever the charter boat was found on Friday, after a wide search, out of fuel about 20 miles from the coast of communist Cuba.

The 17 year old youth was alone on the deck. He said he had killed the captain Douglas Trevor age 47 and his son Edward, 22, who was the First Mate. Foster apparently chartered the sport fishing boat, possibly in a mad effort to reach Cuba for an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro. After earlier attempting to kill himself in a Key West motel room.

A crowd of about 100 had gathered across the boat slip from the Coast Guard dock. The FBI said it would confer with the sheriff's department to determine who had jurisdiction. Newsmen were not permitted to talk to Foster in the waiting room where grief stricken relatives and friends of the Trevor's and Fosters father, Dr. H. A. Foster a Griffin, GA physician. Until the boats arrival, details of the sinister sea tragedy had been withheld from him, presumably because of a weak heart.

The Dream Girl was found after a wide search. After reaching it, Coast Guardsmen gave Foster first aid and put him under guard and took the boat in tow. A suicide note found in Rogers blood spattered Key West motel room had said, "I think I'm insane." It urged authorities, "do not publicize my death. And be careful when you tell my father because he has a bad heart." A Key West Naval Physician, Lieutenant Terrell Tanner refused to tell newsmen where his friend, Dr. Foster, was spending the night. "I intended to break the news to him on Saturday" Tanner said, "I think it would be better for him to have what rest he can before he hears what the Coast Guard found."

A picture of mental turmoil over American Nazi-ism, the Communist Party and Cuba's dictator Fidel Castro begin shaping up from information police gathered about Roger Foster. He was described by his mother in Griffin as "a brilliant boy who seemed to have stranger ideas" that prompted his parents to have him interviewed by a psychologist.

"Maybe he was trying to get to Cuba and go after Castro on his own", Ms. Foster said. Roger tried to start an Anti-communism club at Griffin High School. Rogers mother said distress over a knee injury that prevented him from competing in school athletics may have led him to disappear Monday without leaving any word.

At Key West, Roger evidently arranged passage on the Trevor's boat, Dream Girl. Shortly after noon on Thursday the Trevor's departed and it was sometime during the course of the afternoon that a struggle ensued, and both Captain Douglas and his son Edward were killed.

Foster eventually pled not guilty to the murders - by reason of insanity. He was then committed to a mental institution, and later ended up standing trial for the murders of the Trevor's.

But it was today January 15, 1971, that Roger Foster who admitted he killed charter boat Captain Douglas Trevor and his son Edward off the Marquesas Keys in 1963, was found guilty of second degree murder.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our historical and potentially criminal past visit http://43keys.com.

You can get this program as...]]>Roger Foster, the 17 year old admitted killer of the charter boat, Dream Girls, two man crew was brought to us by a Coast Guard vessel and was immediately whisked away from the docks by FBI agents and Key West Police officers. The husky youth, wearing a t-shirt and pants stained with blood, was held for 15 minutes aboard the Coast Guard Cutter after its arrival, and then hurried to waiting automobile.

Both his hands were bandaged and he appeared dazed and he was led ashore as an FBI agent held him firmly by one arm and Sheriff Henry Haskins held the other. The cutter also towed the Dream Girl into port. Her deck was spattered with blood. "I murdered them and threw them overboard." Foster told Coast Guardsmen whenever the charter boat was found on Friday, after a wide search, out of fuel about 20 miles from the coast of communist Cuba.

The 17 year old youth was alone on the deck. He said he had killed the captain Douglas Trevor age 47 and his son Edward, 22, who was the First Mate. Foster apparently chartered the sport fishing boat, possibly in a mad effort to reach Cuba for an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro. After earlier attempting to kill himself in a Key West motel room.

A crowd of about 100 had gathered across the boat slip from the Coast Guard dock. The FBI said it would confer with the sheriff's department to determine who had jurisdiction. Newsmen were not permitted to talk to Foster in the waiting room where grief stricken relatives and friends of the Trevor's and Fosters father, Dr. H. A. Foster a Griffin, GA physician. Until the boats arrival, details of the sinister sea tragedy had been withheld from him, presumably because of a weak heart.

The Dream Girl was found after a wide search. After reaching it, Coast Guardsmen gave Foster first aid and put him under guard and took the boat in tow. A suicide note found in Rogers blood spattered Key West motel room had said, "I think I'm insane." It urged authorities, "do not publicize my death. And be careful when you tell my father because he has a bad heart." A Key West Naval Physician, Lieutenant Terrell Tanner refused to tell newsmen where his friend, Dr. Foster, was spending the night. "I intended to break the news to him on Saturday" Tanner said, "I think it would be better for him to have what rest he can before he hears what the Coast Guard found."

A picture of mental turmoil over American Nazi-ism, the Communist Party and Cuba's dictator Fidel Castro begin shaping up from information police gathered about Roger Foster. He was described by his mother in Griffin as "a brilliant boy who seemed to have stranger ideas" that prompted his parents to have him interviewed by a psychologist.

"Maybe he was trying to get to Cuba and go after Castro on his own", Ms. Foster said. Roger tried to start an Anti-communism club at Griffin High School. Rogers mother said distress over a knee injury that prevented him from competing in school athletics may have led him to disappear Monday without leaving any word.

At Key West, Roger evidently arranged passage on the Trevor's boat, Dream Girl. Shortly after noon on Thursday the Trevor's departed and it was sometime during the course of the afternoon that a struggle ensued, and both Captain Douglas and his son Edward were killed.

Foster eventually pled not guilty to the murders - by reason of insanity. He was then committed to a mental institution, and later ended up standing trial for the murders of the Trevor's.

But it was today January 15, 1971, that Roger Foster who admitted he killed charter boat Captain Douglas Trevor and his son Edward off the Marquesas Keys in 1963, was found guilty of second degree murder.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our historical and potentially criminal past visit http://43keys.com.

You can get this program as well as others as an Alexa flash briefing. You can also find us on YouTube so go there and subscribe and visit us at http://43keys.com.

More than 100 vessels were already at Key West with another 100 reported to be on their way. Fishing vessels and companies “staked claims” to docking space and freezing facilities; ice was being imported from Miami and rooms were hard to come by. The Paulsen-Webber Cordage Corporation reported an upsurge in the demand of “shrimp rope” and wire rope and shifted all production schedules to give priority to the urgent requests.

“Pink Gold,” being nocturnal feeders, meant the best catches were made at night but the lack of sounding equipment and the presence of coral formations made fishing difficult. Continuing the trend at WW II’s end, the new trawlers being built were larger, more powerful, better equipped, and capable of longer distances from port and longer times at sea. In 1950, the fleet expansion continued rapidly with the desire, not only for “Pink Gold,” but also for fishery exploratory work looking for latent resources and the expansion of existing fisheries. Many of the shrimp trawlers were built in St. Augustine soon to be known as “Shrimp Boat City.”

The Pink Gold Rush prompted St. Augustine to shift focus from catching shrimp to building shrimp trawlers (both shrimping and boatbuilding were a part of St. Augustine’s economy since early 20th century). The boat builders and their suppliers of propellers, engines, rigs, nets, generators, and other machinery saw sales grow to unprecedented levels.

The Key West docks quickly filled to capacity and shrimpers began to use San Carlos Island and Estero Island dock to unload their catches. In 1954, other pink shrimp grounds were discovered around Sanibel Island, and Mexico. The heyday of the Pink Gold Rush was during the 1950s and 1960s and although the shrimp industry faces competition from farmed shrimp today, the shrimp fleet of San Carlos Island still off-loads wild pink shrimp.

If you are ever in Key West and want to try out our delicious Pink Shrimp, you need to ask if the shrimp dish you are ordering is actually made with Key West Pink Shrimp. It's normally specified on the menu and if it isn't mentioned, it probably isn't.

There's one way we always verify that we are eating pink shrimp and it's because Key West Pink Shrimp typically have a small dot on either side of their shell in about the 3rd or 4th abdominal bend. It looks like someone took a Sharpie and made a dot on either side. When you see that, you know you are eating the real thing!

And it was today, Jan 12, 1952 that 200 Shrimping vessels were operating out of Key West. It was said that you could walk from one end of the marina to the other without ever touching water.

And that's what happened today in Key West History!

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our delicious past, and our glorious future in Key West, visit http://43keys.com. 

You can get this program as well as others, as an Alexa Flash Briefing. You can also find us on YouTube, and whereever you get your podcasts. Until then, join us for the fun over at http://43keys.com.

They seem to turn corners with complete abandonment and are likely to knock down persons turning the corner in an opposite direction. These children seem to think nothing of skating across the wall street in the thick of traffic, throwing themselves recklessly under the protection of the special Providence that is claimed to exist for the protection of children. Nothing short of a miracle keep some of them from being run over by automobiles on this busy thoroughfare. Climbing the post office steps is said to be another feat most creditably executed by children on skates, much to the discomfort of people entering and leaving the building.

With the ever increasing volume of traffic on the streets of Key West, serious or even fatal accidents may be expected in the future. If this practice of skating on the streets and sidewalks is not checked, should a little life be snuffed out this way, all the admonitions of sad parents could not bring that little life back again. And it may be all the result of some fond parents not forbidding their children to race on the streets on roller skates.

And it was today January 11, 1926, that The Key West Citizen took a stand against the menace of skating on the sidewalks and the streets and of parkour happening on the post office steps.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To find out about all of the big historical events and the little ones, visit http://43keys.com.

If you want to come to Key West and skate and scooter, or ride your skateboard, come on down and visit us. You can find this show and more as an Alexa briefing. You can also find us on YouTube and anywhere you listen to your podcast. In the meantime, until see you again visit us at http://43keys.com.

Soon after the United States took possession of Florida in 1821, a wooden daymark was placed on the island to warn mariners of this navigational hazard. Lighthouses to mark Florida's reef had just recently been completed at Cape Florida, Key West and the Dry Tortugas, when Congress allocated $16,000 on May 18, 1826 for a lighthouse on Sand Key. The plans for this tower were similar to those us for the other three calling for a 70 foot conical brick tower, exhibiting a light from 11 lamps set in 14 inch reflectors.

Sand Keys light revolved, producing a flashing signature that differentiated it from the nearby fixed light at Key West. The first keeper of Sand Key Lighthouse was slated to be Joseph Ximenez. However, keeper John Flaherty and his wife Rebecca were having a terrible time adjusting to their isolated lives on the Dry Tortugas. So the collector of customs at Key West, William Pinckney arranged for the two keepers to trade assignments. Shortly after the Flaherty's arrived on the island, Sand Key Light was exhibited for the first time on April 15, 1827.

With fisherman, wreckers and picnickers from Key West frequenting the island, the Flaherty's thoroughly enjoyed their new social life. Their joy however, was short lived as John became very sick in May of 1828, and then passed away in 1830. Rebecca remained on the island and was appointed keeper after her husband's death.

In June of 1831, William Randolph Hackley, and attorney in Key West, recorded the following account of a visit he made at Sand Key Lighthouse. "The wind was so light that we did not get to the Key until noon. I went up to the lighthouse. The light is revolving and it's one of the best in the United States. It's kept by Mrs. Flaherty. She with her sister and a hired man are the only inhabitants of the Key and sometimes there are none but the two females. The length of the key is from 150 to 200 yards, and the average breath 50 yards. We remain till evening and having spent a pleasant day, returned to town around 8pm.

The November 23, 1834 edition of the Florida Herald reported a wedding on Sand Key Lighthouse. Rebecca Flaherty had married Captain Frederick Neill. The newlyweds took a lengthy trip the next year to visit family while, a temporary keeper watched the light. Upon their return, Captain Neil was appointed the keeper and served in this role until he resigned in February 10 of 1836.

Captain Francis Wallington was the next keeper maintaining the light until July 27, 1837, when the colorful Captain Joshua Appleby succeeded him. Born in Rhode Island in 1773, Appleby became a widower at a young age when his first wife, Sarah Vaille died at 23. Leaving him alone to care for their one year old daughter, Eliza. In 1820, Appleby sailed for the Florida Keys, where he co founded a settlement on Vaca Key and made a living from the sea through fishing, turtling and salvaging shipwrecks. Appleby's salvaging practices were soon called into question as he was accused of conspiring with a privateer, Charles Hoffner, to intentionally run aground vessels captured by Hoffner so the cargo could be salvaged and sold.

Commander David Porter, head of the naval Squadron a key was responsible for eradicating piracy had Apple be arrested in 1823, and takeen to the irons in Charleston, South Carolina.

Appleby must have been innocent or had friends in high places as he was released after Smith Thompson, the Secretary of the Navy and President James Monroe reviewed the case. Upon securing his freedom, Appleby returned to Rhode Island for a time and then he relocated to Key West. In 1830, the government granted Appleby a license as a wrecker, a trade he...]]>Sand key is situated next to a channel that leads to Key West. It's located roughly eight miles to the north west of Key West. In normal conditions, a significant amount of sand accumulates on the submerged reefs at Sand Key and it actually creates a small island.

Soon after the United States took possession of Florida in 1821, a wooden daymark was placed on the island to warn mariners of this navigational hazard. Lighthouses to mark Florida's reef had just recently been completed at Cape Florida, Key West and the Dry Tortugas, when Congress allocated $16,000 on May 18, 1826 for a lighthouse on Sand Key. The plans for this tower were similar to those us for the other three calling for a 70 foot conical brick tower, exhibiting a light from 11 lamps set in 14 inch reflectors.

Sand Keys light revolved, producing a flashing signature that differentiated it from the nearby fixed light at Key West. The first keeper of Sand Key Lighthouse was slated to be Joseph Ximenez. However, keeper John Flaherty and his wife Rebecca were having a terrible time adjusting to their isolated lives on the Dry Tortugas. So the collector of customs at Key West, William Pinckney arranged for the two keepers to trade assignments. Shortly after the Flaherty's arrived on the island, Sand Key Light was exhibited for the first time on April 15, 1827.

With fisherman, wreckers and picnickers from Key West frequenting the island, the Flaherty's thoroughly enjoyed their new social life. Their joy however, was short lived as John became very sick in May of 1828, and then passed away in 1830. Rebecca remained on the island and was appointed keeper after her husband's death.

In June of 1831, William Randolph Hackley, and attorney in Key West, recorded the following account of a visit he made at Sand Key Lighthouse. "The wind was so light that we did not get to the Key until noon. I went up to the lighthouse. The light is revolving and it's one of the best in the United States. It's kept by Mrs. Flaherty. She with her sister and a hired man are the only inhabitants of the Key and sometimes there are none but the two females. The length of the key is from 150 to 200 yards, and the average breath 50 yards. We remain till evening and having spent a pleasant day, returned to town around 8pm.

The November 23, 1834 edition of the Florida Herald reported a wedding on Sand Key Lighthouse. Rebecca Flaherty had married Captain Frederick Neill. The newlyweds took a lengthy trip the next year to visit family while, a temporary keeper watched the light. Upon their return, Captain Neil was appointed the keeper and served in this role until he resigned in February 10 of 1836.

Captain Francis Wallington was the next keeper maintaining the light until July 27, 1837, when the colorful Captain Joshua Appleby succeeded him. Born in Rhode Island in 1773, Appleby became a widower at a young age when his first wife, Sarah Vaille died at 23. Leaving him alone to care for their one year old daughter, Eliza. In 1820, Appleby sailed for the Florida Keys, where he co founded a settlement on Vaca Key and made a living from the sea through fishing, turtling and salvaging shipwrecks. Appleby's salvaging practices were soon called into question as he was accused of conspiring with a privateer, Charles Hoffner, to intentionally run aground vessels captured by Hoffner so the cargo could be salvaged and sold.

Commander David Porter, head of the naval Squadron a key was responsible for eradicating piracy had Apple be arrested in 1823, and takeen to the irons in Charleston, South Carolina.

Appleby must have been innocent or had friends in high places as he was released after Smith Thompson, the Secretary of the Navy and President James Monroe reviewed the case. Upon securing his freedom, Appleby returned to Rhode Island for a time and then he relocated to Key West. In 1830, the government granted Appleby a license as a wrecker, a trade he practiced for several years. Then on July 27, 1837, he accepted an appointment as the head keeper of Sand Key Lighthouse. While Applebee's livelihood had previously depended on ships misfortunes, it was now his duty to keep these ships safely away from the reef.

During Applebee's tenure at the lighthouse, hurricanes struck Sand Key in 1841 and 1842. With the 1842 hurricane destroying the keepers dwelling and seriously damaging the land. In 1843, a seawall was built around the lighthouse to properly provide protection from the storm surge that accompanied the hurricanes. The following year, that wall was put to the test and it failed. The new keepers dwelling was swept away along with a good portion of the island.

Applebee's daughter, Eliza, have visited the lighthouse on October 1846, along with her husband and their three year old son, and Mary's adopted daughter. On October 11th, a hurricane described as "the most destructive have any that has ever visited these latitudes and the memory of man" hit Sand Key. As the hurricane strengthen, Appleby in his five visitors very likely sought refuge in the lighthouse, since the tower had withstood previous storms. The seawall again proved no match for the hurricane as the raging seas swept across the island washing away the dwelling, tower, and the island itself.

The following morning waves were observed rolling over the reef where the island had been and no trace of the lighthouse could be seen.

Still the reef posed a threat to vessels and Honey, a 140 ton ship was soon purchased in New York recommissioned as a light ship and sent to Florida to mark Sand Key. Congress acted quickly as well, allocating $20,000 on March 3, 1847 for a new Sand Key lighthouse. And then adding an additional some of $39,970 and 74 cents to the project in 1848.

Before the new lighthouse was completed, at least eight vessels had run aground on the reef resulting in a loss of over $420,000. Although lighthouses were expensive to construct, the reduction in lost cargo easily offset the investment.

Hurricanes struck Sand Key lighthouse tower again in 1856 and 1865, followed by the twin hurricanes of 1870, and another one in 1875. Each hurricanes swept away most of the island and the station's Wharf, boathouse, privy and oil house were destroyed multiple times.

By 1875, the dwelling perched in the tower had suffered so much abuse at the hands of the hurricanes that it to had to be replaced using a $20,000 appropriation made by Congress in 1874.

As the bolts used to hold the dwelling together were thoroughly rusted, much cutting was required to remove the old structure before it could be replaced with a new, heavier one.

During the periods between hurricanes when sand built back up around the lighthouse, thousands of terns congregated on Sand Key to nest. Eggs were found to be quite tasty and the light housekeepers would collect him by the basket full to deliver to their friends in Key West.

At one point, it was reported that nine to 12,000 birds used to nest on Sand Key, but so many eggs were taken only two or 300 young ones hatched. On neighboring islands, birds would be killed by plume hunter seeking fancy feathers to adorn ladies hats.

Eventually, Sand Key Lighthouse came under control of the Coast Guard. The light was automated and the dwelling on that lighthouse was vacated on June 1, 2017.

The Sand Key Lighthouse was deemed access by the Coast Guard and was made available under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to eligible entities.

And it was today, January the 9, 1827, that construction began on the first lighthouse on Sand Key. It was completed in 70 days.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. You can find out more about our glorious past by visiting http://43keys.com.

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We're not really sure where the word "key" came from as a reference to an island. Most believe that it began by the Spanish adapting the word Cayo from the Tiano Indians of Hispaniola and Cuba. Referring to small islands, the Spanish normally used "isla" for Island and "islet" for small island. At least in the new world, they appear to us Cayo and Cayhuelo for a very small island. The English use Cay or Kay such as Cay Sal Banks. Cay is pronounced by Americans as the letter K, but by Englishman as the word key.

The native Aborigines and subsequent native groups were the first settlers of Key West. The Europeans were tourists. For the first 300 odd years of historic existence, Europeans stopped for fresh water on the islands, which stood as silent as the martyrs for which they were first named. The silence was broken occasionally by those seeking refuge from being shipped wrecked, to fish, to lumber, to salvage. Other than the Native Americans, apparently no one settled permanently.

Until about the time Florida became a United States territory in 1821, the history of Key West is much like the rest of the Keys until 1821. Its natural deepwater port was the deepest port between New Orleans and Norfolk, Virginia. Key West quickly became the economic center, was rapidly settled, and became Florida's largest populated city. It had professional residents, such as doctors, lawyers, insurance company representatives, politicians, military personnel, journalists, publishers, and most of whom, by vocation, make some written documentation. These documentations has made Key West history easier to be true history and not just a fable.

Politically, Key West was Monroe County. In population alone, it overwhelmed all of the remaining Keys for about a century and a half. From a historian's point of view Key West is an interesting beginning. To be considered is the island's ownership - as private property ownership by the territory of Florida, ownership by the US government and finally, as a local incorporated entity. John W. Simonton purchased the island on January 19, 1822, from Don Pablo Salas, who had acquired it as a Spanish land grant in 1815, from Don Juan de Estrada. But as a new US territory, the original Don Juan de Estrada land grant to Salas had to be confirmed. No US Deed could be granted. In reality, it went round and round with claims and counterclaims and attempts to follow these just look like a spider web connecting one thing to another. John Simonton soon took on three northern partners - John Whitehead, John Fleming and Pardon Green. On the scene arrived General John Gettis of Charleston, who'd also purchased Key West.

It was actually discovered that Don Juan Salas had sold it twice. First, to John Strong, a lawyer no less, and then to Simonton. Simonton had already divided amongst the three - Whitehead, Fleming, and Green. Green had made several strategic moves by buying up claims in his name.

And on May 23, 1828, Congress acknowledged the land grant of Salus was confirmed and Simonton as the legal owner. We might surmise that this was Florida's first land scam. And as amazing as it legally appears, the territory of Florida with an act of incorporation incorporated the city of Key West. It was also incorporated a second time on November 29 of 1828 as a town. So Key West was...]]>Key West, like the other Florida Keys, began as a coral forest under the sea water. Marine life was its only population as the polar ice caps reformed and the sea level dropped. Terrestrial plant and animal life found its way. Soil was formed by decaying organic matter and storm actions. For millenniums the ocean continued to drop and the ocean currents, wind currents, birds and other things began to propagate the islands. Eventually, human life forms also found their way. These trillions of cells of life form along with the forces of nature produced an island called "Cayo Hueso" by early Spanish travelers.

We're not really sure where the word "key" came from as a reference to an island. Most believe that it began by the Spanish adapting the word Cayo from the Tiano Indians of Hispaniola and Cuba. Referring to small islands, the Spanish normally used "isla" for Island and "islet" for small island. At least in the new world, they appear to us Cayo and Cayhuelo for a very small island. The English use Cay or Kay such as Cay Sal Banks. Cay is pronounced by Americans as the letter K, but by Englishman as the word key.

The native Aborigines and subsequent native groups were the first settlers of Key West. The Europeans were tourists. For the first 300 odd years of historic existence, Europeans stopped for fresh water on the islands, which stood as silent as the martyrs for which they were first named. The silence was broken occasionally by those seeking refuge from being shipped wrecked, to fish, to lumber, to salvage. Other than the Native Americans, apparently no one settled permanently.

Until about the time Florida became a United States territory in 1821, the history of Key West is much like the rest of the Keys until 1821. Its natural deepwater port was the deepest port between New Orleans and Norfolk, Virginia. Key West quickly became the economic center, was rapidly settled, and became Florida's largest populated city. It had professional residents, such as doctors, lawyers, insurance company representatives, politicians, military personnel, journalists, publishers, and most of whom, by vocation, make some written documentation. These documentations has made Key West history easier to be true history and not just a fable.

Politically, Key West was Monroe County. In population alone, it overwhelmed all of the remaining Keys for about a century and a half. From a historian's point of view Key West is an interesting beginning. To be considered is the island's ownership - as private property ownership by the territory of Florida, ownership by the US government and finally, as a local incorporated entity. John W. Simonton purchased the island on January 19, 1822, from Don Pablo Salas, who had acquired it as a Spanish land grant in 1815, from Don Juan de Estrada. But as a new US territory, the original Don Juan de Estrada land grant to Salas had to be confirmed. No US Deed could be granted. In reality, it went round and round with claims and counterclaims and attempts to follow these just look like a spider web connecting one thing to another. John Simonton soon took on three northern partners - John Whitehead, John Fleming and Pardon Green. On the scene arrived General John Gettis of Charleston, who'd also purchased Key West.

It was actually discovered that Don Juan Salas had sold it twice. First, to John Strong, a lawyer no less, and then to Simonton. Simonton had already divided amongst the three - Whitehead, Fleming, and Green. Green had made several strategic moves by buying up claims in his name.

And on May 23, 1828, Congress acknowledged the land grant of Salus was confirmed and Simonton as the legal owner. We might surmise that this was Florida's first land scam. And as amazing as it legally appears, the territory of Florida with an act of incorporation incorporated the city of Key West. It was also incorporated a second time on November 29 of 1828 as a town. So Key West was incorporated twice, once as a city and once as a town.

Location. Location. Location is the cry of any good businessman and the Federal Wrecking Act prescribed that all property wrecked in US water had to be taken to a US port of entry. 1828 was a pivotal year for the Keys. In 1828, Key West was designated a port of entry. Key West grew from a desolated Island into a bustling city. Within a few years. Congress acknowledged Simonton as the owner of Key West and Key West incorporated twice. Congress created the Superior Court of the Southern District with Admiralty power. Judge James Webb was its first judge, but his successor William Marvin will be the most remembered. He authored the Law of Wreck and Salvage and later was Provisional Governor of Florida at the close of the Civil War. In 1832, Key West reverted to a charter type city government.

But it was today, January 8, 1828, that Key West was first incorporated as a city.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West history is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our glorious past here on the Florida Keys and even what's going on now in the Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com.

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In several other parts of the city, similar reports have been made to The Citizen by residents. Some of them said they have seen not only children but grown ups also reach over into a yard and tear a limb off a Croton or some other beautiful plant. And in the case of some boys, they poked fun at the owner of a yard when they were reprimanded for breaking a plant or pulling it up. "The whole trouble," a resident said today, "is because many residents of Key West have not been used to open yards, to seeing growing things within their reach, and not touching them. And it seems to me that the best way to teach them to respect the property of others, as represented in plants and trees and flowers is to arrest a few of them and find them and send them to jail. What's the use of preaching about pulling down fences to modernize the yards, if the growing things in the yards are to be destroyed by every Tom, Dick, and Harry? It's beyond me, and trying to understand how anybody except a bit of a child, of course, can have the heart to go into somebody's yard and tear his plants to pieces. Yet it is done day in and day out in Key West and the doers are not the smaller children that good size boys and girls and sometimes grown people."

It is in the hopes of stopping that class of vandalism and to promote the growth of plants, trees, flowers and roses in Key West that The Citizen decided today to offer the reward. The reward is not confined to members of the police force. It will be given to anyone who's information leads to the arrest and conviction of a person for destroying plant life and any yard in the city. Many of the small trees, so it has been reported, that were planted throughout the city during the tree planting campaign conducted by the Chamber of Commerce have had tender shoots torn off of them and have been broken in two our been pulled up altogether. The Citizen hopes that all Key Westers who wish to see the city further beautified by the planting of trees and flowers will join in the movement to put an end to the destruction of them.

And it was today, December the 25th, 1923, that the Key West Citizen offered a reward of $25 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of guilty yard vandals. And that's what happened today in Key West history.

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Tampa $414,206

Key West $3,334,635

Now, a pupil in the lower grades of the public schools can easily figure out that the exports from Key West during August were more than eight times as large as those from Tamp. In view of that fact issued by the customs inspector in Tampa itself, and then view of the further fact that the greatness of a country depends in a large measurement on the volume of its exports, the port of Key West is at least eight times of greater consequence than the port of Tampa. True the Tampa Tribune may say that the goods that are shipped from this port come from all over the country. But isn't the same thing just as true of any other part of the United States? Have any real consequence that the port of Key West was chosen as the most logical one through which to ship the goods goes to prove how great is its importance in the estimation of the shippers who use it as the port of exportation that the port of Key West was chosen as the most logical one through which to ship goods goes to prove how great is its importance, in the estimation of the shippers who use it as a port of exportation. Were Tampa considered as good a port from which to ship the goods, it would not be so far down in the scale as a port of exportation, but indeed would be running neck and neck with Key West, instead of being less than one eighth of importance.

The last few years, there has seemed to be an unexpected understanding among the newspapers of Florida to give every city in the state its rightful due, which was a decided step forward in the ernstwhile practice of claiming the world with the proverbial fence around it in an attempt to boost a town. The editor of the tribune known and has known for years that Key West is nearer to the Panama Canal than Tampa, so what was his motive and casting the surreptitious slur at Key West?

Did he think that it would help Tampa the expense of Key West? Or did he really think that the port of Key West was not of any real consequence? Of course, we don't pretend to answer those questions for him. But had he read the reports issued by the collector of customs in Tampa, month after month during year after year, he would not have failed to know the exports from the port of Key West have always been greater than the exports from all of the other ports of Florida combined. The distance from Key West to the Panama Canal is 1083 miles while the distance from Tampa is 1290 miles in other words, Key West a real port of consequence is 207 miles nearer the Panama Canal than Tampa.

So, it was today December the 24th, 1923, the Key West was declared a port of real consequence.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To find out all about our glorious past and what's going on right now in the beautiful Florida Keys visit...]]>On December the 24th, 1923, this quote appeared in the Tampa Tribune. "Tampa is the nearest port of any real consequence in the United States to the Panama Canal." Soon after, there was a rebuttal printed in the Key West Citizen. "Either the tribune is ignorant of the fact that Key West is nearer to the Panama Canal than Tampa or is deliberately misrepresenting the fact or does not consider Key West a part of any real consequence. Let us consider those suppositions in order. If the tribune is ignorant of the fact then let it enjoy its bliss without molestation. If it made the statement deliberately, it should be ashamed of itself from misleading its readers, loyal Tampans included, if it does not consider the port of Key West to have any real consequence. It's easy enough to prove that it is a far more consequence than Tampa by quoting the last report of the customs district of Florida, the headquarters of which is in Tampa, though it should be in Key West. Covering the exports for the month of August, as it concerns Tampa and Key West. Here's how it is:

Tampa $414,206

Key West $3,334,635

Now, a pupil in the lower grades of the public schools can easily figure out that the exports from Key West during August were more than eight times as large as those from Tamp. In view of that fact issued by the customs inspector in Tampa itself, and then view of the further fact that the greatness of a country depends in a large measurement on the volume of its exports, the port of Key West is at least eight times of greater consequence than the port of Tampa. True the Tampa Tribune may say that the goods that are shipped from this port come from all over the country. But isn't the same thing just as true of any other part of the United States? Have any real consequence that the port of Key West was chosen as the most logical one through which to ship the goods goes to prove how great is its importance in the estimation of the shippers who use it as the port of exportation that the port of Key West was chosen as the most logical one through which to ship goods goes to prove how great is its importance, in the estimation of the shippers who use it as a port of exportation. Were Tampa considered as good a port from which to ship the goods, it would not be so far down in the scale as a port of exportation, but indeed would be running neck and neck with Key West, instead of being less than one eighth of importance.

The last few years, there has seemed to be an unexpected understanding among the newspapers of Florida to give every city in the state its rightful due, which was a decided step forward in the ernstwhile practice of claiming the world with the proverbial fence around it in an attempt to boost a town. The editor of the tribune known and has known for years that Key West is nearer to the Panama Canal than Tampa, so what was his motive and casting the surreptitious slur at Key West?

Did he think that it would help Tampa the expense of Key West? Or did he really think that the port of Key West was not of any real consequence? Of course, we don't pretend to answer those questions for him. But had he read the reports issued by the collector of customs in Tampa, month after month during year after year, he would not have failed to know the exports from the port of Key West have always been greater than the exports from all of the other ports of Florida combined. The distance from Key West to the Panama Canal is 1083 miles while the distance from Tampa is 1290 miles in other words, Key West a real port of consequence is 207 miles nearer the Panama Canal than Tampa.

So, it was today December the 24th, 1923, the Key West was declared a port of real consequence.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To find out all about our glorious past and what's going on right now in the beautiful Florida Keys visit http://43keys.com. You can also get this program as well as others

as an Alexa flash briefing. Just tell Alexa, "Hey Alexa, play today in Key West History as my flash briefing."

Martí attended university in Spain and studied law and philosophy. He published his first newspaper, La Patria Libre (The Free Fatherland), in 1869 and later El presidio político en Cuba (The Political Prison in Cuba), a protest against the abuse in Cuban prisons. He moved to New York in 1881, where he resided for the next 11 years.

Well-versed in Spanish literature, Martí wrote poems, essays, books, English translations of novels and journal articles. He also informed readers of major events and life in the United States in Spanish-language newspapers as an admirer of the country’s vigor, industry and Constitution.

Besides his literary prestige, Martí became known as a Cuban national hero and was invited to speak at Ybor City’s revolutionary clubs. In November 1891, he arrived to Tampa from New York via the Henry B. Plant railroad. He delivered two of his most famous speeches at El Liceo Cubano (The Cuban Lyceum), Vincente Martínez Ybor’s first cigar factory converted into a theatre, on 13th Street and 7th Avenue. That site became the headquarters of his visits.

Martí's speeches were published and read in cigar factories throughout Tampa and Key West. In both cities, he united different factions under a common cause—Cuban independence.

Martí loved Tampa and its people, and called the city “El Pueblo Fiel” (The Faithful Town). In 1892, he founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party and drafted its basic principles in Tampa. His compelling oratory raised money for the Cuban Independence Movement, and cigar workers offered a portion of their wages to the mission.

Martí and other Cuban insurrectionists were received by Tampa Mayor Herman Glogowski, who transported them from City Hall across the new Lafayette Street Bridge in his carriage to see the newly dedicated Tampa Bay Hotel. He was also hosted at the Pedroso House on 13th Street and 8th Avenue, the current location of Parque Amigos de José Martí (Friends of José Martí Park).

After celebrating his 40th birthday, Martí paid seven visits to cigar factories in Ybor City and held meetings and fundraisers at El Liceo Cubano. The growing number of cigar manufacturers in the city increased financial support for his endeavor.

Among Martí's friends in Tampa elected to City Council were Ramon Rubiera de Armas, Emilio Pons, Candido Martínez Ybor and Ramon Rivero y Rivero. Rivero is noted for having introduced Martí at his speeches, but also for his work as the publisher of many local Cuban patriotic newspapers, such as La Revista de Florida and El Critico de Ybor City.

The Cubans in Tampa frequently traveled back and forth between the city and their homeland. Martí listened to his compatriots’ grievances and reports about the atrocities of Spanish colonial reign, which made Tampa a safe haven to openly discuss their objections and desire to overthrow Spanish regime.

While in New York, a few days after his 42nd birthday Martí signed the order of uprising against Spain. He then directed his secretary Gonzalo de Quesada to deliver it to Fernando Figueredo Socarrás, West Tampa’s first mayor.

Socarrás requested cigar magnate O’Halloran to roll the decree into a cigar, which Quesada (later Cuba’s first U.S. ambassador) carried to Key West on Henry B. Plant’s steamship. There, Quesada handed the cigar to another courier who took it to Cuba aboard Plant’s steamer and gave it to Juan Gualberto Gomez.

Gomez opened the loaded West Tampa cigar with Martí's instructions and ordered Cuban insurrectionists to initiate the War of Independence, which began on February 24, 1895. Martí arrived in Cuba shortly afterward, but was killed in a small]]>José Martí was born in Havana to Spanish immigrants in 1853. From a young age, he dedicated himself to the Cuban struggle for independence. During his life he visited Tampa 20 times, a place with strong ties to Cuba where he consolidated drive and advocacy to bring change to Cuba.

Martí attended university in Spain and studied law and philosophy. He published his first newspaper, La Patria Libre (The Free Fatherland), in 1869 and later El presidio político en Cuba (The Political Prison in Cuba), a protest against the abuse in Cuban prisons. He moved to New York in 1881, where he resided for the next 11 years.

Well-versed in Spanish literature, Martí wrote poems, essays, books, English translations of novels and journal articles. He also informed readers of major events and life in the United States in Spanish-language newspapers as an admirer of the country’s vigor, industry and Constitution.

Besides his literary prestige, Martí became known as a Cuban national hero and was invited to speak at Ybor City’s revolutionary clubs. In November 1891, he arrived to Tampa from New York via the Henry B. Plant railroad. He delivered two of his most famous speeches at El Liceo Cubano (The Cuban Lyceum), Vincente Martínez Ybor’s first cigar factory converted into a theatre, on 13th Street and 7th Avenue. That site became the headquarters of his visits.

Martí's speeches were published and read in cigar factories throughout Tampa and Key West. In both cities, he united different factions under a common cause—Cuban independence.

Martí loved Tampa and its people, and called the city “El Pueblo Fiel” (The Faithful Town). In 1892, he founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party and drafted its basic principles in Tampa. His compelling oratory raised money for the Cuban Independence Movement, and cigar workers offered a portion of their wages to the mission.

Martí and other Cuban insurrectionists were received by Tampa Mayor Herman Glogowski, who transported them from City Hall across the new Lafayette Street Bridge in his carriage to see the newly dedicated Tampa Bay Hotel. He was also hosted at the Pedroso House on 13th Street and 8th Avenue, the current location of Parque Amigos de José Martí (Friends of José Martí Park).

After celebrating his 40th birthday, Martí paid seven visits to cigar factories in Ybor City and held meetings and fundraisers at El Liceo Cubano. The growing number of cigar manufacturers in the city increased financial support for his endeavor.

Among Martí's friends in Tampa elected to City Council were Ramon Rubiera de Armas, Emilio Pons, Candido Martínez Ybor and Ramon Rivero y Rivero. Rivero is noted for having introduced Martí at his speeches, but also for his work as the publisher of many local Cuban patriotic newspapers, such as La Revista de Florida and El Critico de Ybor City.

The Cubans in Tampa frequently traveled back and forth between the city and their homeland. Martí listened to his compatriots’ grievances and reports about the atrocities of Spanish colonial reign, which made Tampa a safe haven to openly discuss their objections and desire to overthrow Spanish regime.

While in New York, a few days after his 42nd birthday Martí signed the order of uprising against Spain. He then directed his secretary Gonzalo de Quesada to deliver it to Fernando Figueredo Socarrás, West Tampa’s first mayor.

Socarrás requested cigar magnate O’Halloran to roll the decree into a cigar, which Quesada (later Cuba’s first U.S. ambassador) carried to Key West on Henry B. Plant’s steamship. There, Quesada handed the cigar to another courier who took it to Cuba aboard Plant’s steamer and gave it to Juan Gualberto Gomez.

Gomez opened the loaded West Tampa cigar with Martí's instructions and ordered Cuban insurrectionists to initiate the War of Independence, which began on February 24, 1895. Martí arrived in Cuba shortly afterward, but was killed in a small skirmish on May 19.

Martí’s “Cuba Libre!” (“Free Cuba!”) dream was ultimately fulfilled on May 20, 1902, when the country obtained independence. Several effigies of Martí are scattered throughout Ybor City, including busts and a statue which stands in José Martí Park.

But in the summer all the business died and Falcone says they would not have made it through except for local matriarch, Mary Spottswood. "She would come in and buy everythin - wine glasses, placements and tons of housewares that she didn't even need." She did it only to try and keep us alive. Falcone said, "she would come in, we had a long table and a big fan chair behind it, and then some stools in front of it. And she would just come in and just sit and talk to us for hours."

Well, that was classic Mary Spottswood. Mary and her husband John lived at 531 Caroline Street in what is known today as the John M. Spottswood House. They moved into the house in the 1940's and she raised her three sons and a daughter there. Mary's grandchildren are now seventh generation conchs!

Mary was active in the community. She was involved in the Montessori School and was always taking on charitable endeavors. She was a member of the Laureate Delta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and she opened her home to many other charitable organizations and social events were continually being held at the Spottswood home. The society pages of the newspaper during the 1980's were full of mentions of all the charitable deeds of Mary Spottswood.

She was a longtime friend and supporter of Bayview Manor. She was a hospitable woman and she loved doing things for other people. She was constantly involved in fundraising for organizations in town that were closest to her heart.

In the 1960's John Spottswood began his first foray into real estate development with the purchase of the Casa Marina and La Concha hotels. John and Mary Spottswood also became friends with Harry and Bess Truman. You'll remember that Harry Truman spent many vacations as president in Key West and John s and Mary Spottswood were some of the people that were frequently at dinner together with Harry and Bess Truman. It's not every day that you can live on a tiny island and yet still be friends and dinner companions with the most powerful man in the world.

You can find reminders of Mary Spottswood all over Key West and even at the Mary abnd John Spottswood Waterfront Park located in the city.

And it was today December the 20th, 1996, that Mary Spottswood, the island's grand dame, matriarch and First Lady died at the age of 73. Her late husband John had been Sheriff of the county, a state senator, and also started Cable Vision, one of the first cable systems in the country.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you want to learn more about Key West history and the people who put it on the map, visit http://43keys.com.

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So, you could just saunter down to Key West and your car drive to Stock Island and catch the ferry, which was operated by the West India Fruit and Steamship Company. The ferry left Key West on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am. The SS Havana could accommodate 500 passengers and 125 cars. Arrival in Havana was at 6pm, so the crossing took about seven hours. The fare was $13.50 one way or $26 round trip. Now if you convert that to today's dollars, that's over $200 for the trip.

The ship then left Havana for the trip back to Key West at 10am, so you were back in Key West by 5pm. The ship was air conditioned and it offered snack bars, lounges, a gift shop and small day cabins. As relations with Cuba eroded in 1959, with the trade embargo emerging in 1960, the ferry service ceased and the ships were sold off in 1961.

In recent decades, direct travel between Key West and Havana has been at its lowest point in almost 200 years. Yet with developments in the current political climates, some efforts are being made to reconnect these islands in the stream. One such effort is being led by Stock Island Marina village in Key West. It has the largest deep water marina in the Florida Keys and it's only 100 miles from Havana. The Marine village is investing in new infrastructure and services to accommodate international yachts and cruisers, as they make their way south in the pristine waters of Cuba. And perhaps one day in the not too distant future, We'll see these two islands connected once again.

And it was today, December the 18th 1955, that the West India Fruit and Steamship Company's Key West to Havana ferry completed testing in the Chesapeake Bay. The "City of Havana" was a 472 foot former Navy LSD that was converted to an automobile passenger ferry by the Newport News Dry Dock and Shipbuilding company.

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By the time the sun rose the next morning, only the twisted parts of the superstructure were visible above the water. Small boats were called in to examine the damage and try to rescue any of the injured. When the Maine had approached Cuba, it was flying the flag of Cuba. This was during a time when the Spanish regime was resisting the uprising of the nationalist guerillas in Cuba. We're not for sure what happened and what actually caused the blast that killed 260 men and destroyed the battleship Maine, but we believe from all evidence that it was the consequence of a mine explosion. No one's ever taken responsibility for it, but after that it did start the brief Spanish American War of 1898.

The United States was pushing for Cuban independence, the Spaniards were trying to crush the uprising. After the incident, the United States declared war on Spain on April 25, and Congress authorized the official declaration of war against the Spaniards. By the time May 1, had rolled around an American fleet in Manila Bay in the Philippines had annihilated an entire Spanish fleet in short order. We lost no men and only had seven wounded soldiers from this conflict, but we handily declared victory.

It was in June of 1898, that the American expeditionary forces landed in Santiago, Cuba. Our troops were sweating in their heavy woollen uniforms, which were thoughtfully issued to help protect them from the cold. It was in that year that the soldiers were also eating what was called "embalmed beef" out of the tin cans. You know, we may have lost more soldiers to "embalmed beef" than we actually did to war.

On July 1 of that year, Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders also were able to capture the city of Santiago, which surrendered on the 17th, the Spanish Cuban fleet was hunted down by the American battleships and completely destroyed within four hours. After that, American troops sailed off to Puerto Rico, and the Spanish government called for peace.

It was during those years that far more Americans were killed by "embalmed beef" or tropical diseases like typhoid, yellow fever, and malaria, than were actually killed in the course of battle. It was December of that year that a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was finally signed, Spain lost all of its colonies in the new world. The United States took control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Cuba gained independence and Theodore Roosevelt who was then the Secretary of the Navy earned a heroes reputation and it was that "embalmed beef" in the tin that also inspired the first Food and Drug Act.

So mind you, this was all happening at the end of the year in 1898. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the commander of the Maine, Captain Charles D. Sigsbee did no wrong in the loss of life and the subsequent explosion that cost him all of his men and the ship that night in Havana harbor.

And even though all of this happened in 1898, it wasn't until today, December 17, 1899, that the USS Texas captained by Charles D. Sigsbee, be who is the same commander that lost the Maine sailed back into Havana harbor to claim the bodies of the victims of the Maine disaster and bring them back to Arlington National Cemetery for a proper military burial.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media to learn more about our glorious past here in the Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com. You can make this and other programs an Alexa flash...]]>The night seemed like any other. It was February 15th and the crew of the battleship Maine had been dispatched to Havana. In the evening, they were riding quietly at anchor in the Havana Harbor, everyone going about their duties and minding their own business, when suddenly at 9:40pm out of nowhere an explosion happened and tore out the bottom of the ship and sank the entire ship, killing 260 of nearly 400 men on board.

By the time the sun rose the next morning, only the twisted parts of the superstructure were visible above the water. Small boats were called in to examine the damage and try to rescue any of the injured. When the Maine had approached Cuba, it was flying the flag of Cuba. This was during a time when the Spanish regime was resisting the uprising of the nationalist guerillas in Cuba. We're not for sure what happened and what actually caused the blast that killed 260 men and destroyed the battleship Maine, but we believe from all evidence that it was the consequence of a mine explosion. No one's ever taken responsibility for it, but after that it did start the brief Spanish American War of 1898.

The United States was pushing for Cuban independence, the Spaniards were trying to crush the uprising. After the incident, the United States declared war on Spain on April 25, and Congress authorized the official declaration of war against the Spaniards. By the time May 1, had rolled around an American fleet in Manila Bay in the Philippines had annihilated an entire Spanish fleet in short order. We lost no men and only had seven wounded soldiers from this conflict, but we handily declared victory.

It was in June of 1898, that the American expeditionary forces landed in Santiago, Cuba. Our troops were sweating in their heavy woollen uniforms, which were thoughtfully issued to help protect them from the cold. It was in that year that the soldiers were also eating what was called "embalmed beef" out of the tin cans. You know, we may have lost more soldiers to "embalmed beef" than we actually did to war.

On July 1 of that year, Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders also were able to capture the city of Santiago, which surrendered on the 17th, the Spanish Cuban fleet was hunted down by the American battleships and completely destroyed within four hours. After that, American troops sailed off to Puerto Rico, and the Spanish government called for peace.

It was during those years that far more Americans were killed by "embalmed beef" or tropical diseases like typhoid, yellow fever, and malaria, than were actually killed in the course of battle. It was December of that year that a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was finally signed, Spain lost all of its colonies in the new world. The United States took control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Cuba gained independence and Theodore Roosevelt who was then the Secretary of the Navy earned a heroes reputation and it was that "embalmed beef" in the tin that also inspired the first Food and Drug Act.

So mind you, this was all happening at the end of the year in 1898. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the commander of the Maine, Captain Charles D. Sigsbee did no wrong in the loss of life and the subsequent explosion that cost him all of his men and the ship that night in Havana harbor.

And even though all of this happened in 1898, it wasn't until today, December 17, 1899, that the USS Texas captained by Charles D. Sigsbee, be who is the same commander that lost the Maine sailed back into Havana harbor to claim the bodies of the victims of the Maine disaster and bring them back to Arlington National Cemetery for a proper military burial.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media to learn more about our glorious past here in the Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com. You can make this and other programs an Alexa flash briefing. For you to enable that just simply tell Alexa, "Hey Alexa, play today in Key West history as my flash briefing."

The underwater cable system connecting Key West to Cuba officially began construction in 1867, the submarine cables were laid by boat crews in six different sections. The cable was laid in up to 1000 feet of water in the waters of the Florida Straights and connected Key West to Havana. There are several historic cable huts still visible around Key West. One of the more well preserved huts, sits near the Southernmost Point. Another less preserved example is able to be seen in the area of the Mallory Square dock. Some efforts have been made to preserve these historic cable huts.

It wasn't until this underwater cable system was installed that the United States was finally able to be connected to another country for this type of communication. In 1867, after the first section was laid, Key West Mayor E.O. Gwynn and the Captain-General of Cuba Joaquin del Manzano exchanged greetings over the wire. Now that communication could be made with the outside world, it was quite expensive to actually utilize the service.

Initially, Congress had limited the cost of a telegram to $3.50 cents for each 10 words. Imagine that! Eventually, the cost of a telegraph to Havana cost $4 in gold, by 1870. Additional underwater cable lines were added to the system in 1871, 1873, 1875, 1919 and 1927. At the height of the communications boom for Key West there were six different lines that connected the island to various locations.

Between shipping mishaps, hurricanes and the harsh marine environment, the cables were constantly having to be repaired and replaced. The underwater cable system remained in use until the last segment connecting Key West to Havana failed in 1987.

And it was today, December 15th, 1930, that the German cable ship Neptun started laying a new telephone cable to Cuba. The Key West end of the cable landed at the foot of Waddell Street. The cable was jointly owned by American Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Cuban Telephone Company. This was the fourth cable between Key West and Havana. The ship to two days to complete the cables to Havana.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our glorious and historical past visit http://43keys.com. This program, as well as others, are also available as an Alexa flash briefing. Just tell Alexa to "play Today in Key West History as my flash briefing."

Despite the difficulties and delays in construction, the Custom House opened in April of 1891. Built at a total cost of $107,955 - and that was almost $30,000 over the budget.

The Key West climate took an immediate toll on the building and the salty air eroded parts of it. The Hurricanes of 1909, 1910, and 1920 caused considerable damage to the brick building.

The new building housed Key Wesr customs offices, the District Court and the post office. When it first opened, the building was occupied on the first floor by the postal and custom services, with the second floor containing the courtroom and court offices, while the lighthouse inspector and other government officials were housed on the third floor. During its prime the Custom House heard thousands of cases and judgments ranging from rum runners to ship salvaging claims. The most significant proceedings dealt with the sinking of the US Maine in Havana Harbor, which ultimately led to the Spanish American War.

As the decades passed, the Customs House saw a decrease in use. In the 1930s, the customs offices, the District Court and the post office all moved to new facilities. The Navy moved some of its personnel into the building into a utilitarian office space, they dropped the ceiling and turned the large gracious rooms into small functional offices. The beautifully arched wrap-around porch was also enclosed to create additional workspace.

Despite the fact that in 1973, the Custom House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Navy eventually decided to abandon the building. With all of its former tenants relocated, the Custom House was sealed, fenced off and left a feral cats, transients and just general decay. In 1976, after being declared a Historic Custom House by the Treasury Department, the structures ownership title was given to the city of Key West.

Throughout the 1980s, the custom houses future remained in doubt. Various plans were drafted, which saw the historic building being converted into a yacht club and at one point even to an upscale resort. Ultimately after being sold in 1991 to the Florida Land Acquisition Advisory Council. The Key West Art and Historical Society undertook the restoration of the dilapidated building. In 1993, historic renovations began on the building under the supervision of lead architect Bert Bender. What had originally cost less than $110,000 to build in four years, now cost nearly $9 million to renovate over nine years. Restoration of the building followed historical preservation guidelines and used original construction materials. The building required modernization in order to accommodate a public museum and offices. This required the installation of additional stairwells and elevator, temperature control climates, archival rooms, offices and facilities to accommodate over 300,000 visitors a year. With restorations completed in 1999, the Key West Art and Historical Society reopened the beautiful Custom House as the crown jewel of Key West

And it was today December the 14th, 1888, that the contract for the Custom House at the end of Whitehead Street was awarded. The structure was completed three years later and occupied in the latter part of 1891.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West was History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our glorious past here on the Florida Keys and our future visit http://43keys.com.

This program as well as others are also available as an Alexa flash briefing. Just tell Alexa to "play today in Key West history as my flash briefing."

When I saw this paragraph, this one paragraph it made me sick to think about our beautiful key deer being stalked and hunted. So it sent me searching to find out more about why hunting expeditions were allowed in the Florida Keys. As it turns out, there's a long history of deer hunting and the Florida Keys. It flourished in the Keys in the 1930's. Most of the deer hunters were Cubans. They were former cigar makers from Key West and used "explorades", which the Spanish equivalent of hunting guides. It was one of those "explorades", a man named Turtelino, who caught the legendary Le Aeroplano. He was a tiny deer so fast that he seemed to fly. And he alluded hunters for nearly 10 years before he was finally bagged on Big Torch Key. The "explorades" had a profound knowledge of the ways of the deer. They learned that the creatures always fed on the windward side of the Keys, where the wind kept the mosquitoes away. The Key Deer is a subspecies - a smaller version of the Virginia whitetail, less than three feet high at the shoulder. A buck averages 65 to 80 pounds a doe about 40 pounds. Over many years, the deer has adapted to the aquatic world of the Keys.

By the 1930's, hunting had depleted the number of key deer to 20. In 1939, the Florida legislature banned deer hunting in the Keys. Since then, the efforts of many conservationist and agencies have helped the tiny deer make a comeback. The effort culminated in 1963 with the dedication of the National Key Deer Refuge.

The saving of the Key Deer from total extinction is generally credited to one man - Jack Watson. In 1946, Mr. Watson became an officer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and quickly became the key deer's best friend. Realizing not only how adorable, but also how curiously close to extinction they were, he declared a one man war on poachers and used whatever tactics were necessary. These included disabling their car with bullets to the engine or a gas tank or setting their boats on fire. He also spent much time educating the government and public about the deer and in 1957, when the Key Deer refuge is finally established.

Although they were saved a hair from extinction. The deer were then confronted with major habitat losses during the 1960's, 70's and 80's due to human expansion and construction. Officially put on the endangered species list in 1967, and it remains there today. The major reason is closely linked to its very limited habitat range. Existing population estimates hover around 800 in mid 2017. However, the vast majority are concentrated on Big Pine and No Name Keys - two islands located right next to each other encompassing less than 12 square miles total. The Key Deer also faced a screw worm epidemic in 2016 where approximately 10% of the herd was lost to the horrible screw worm outbreak. A year later, the Key Deer had to survive Hurricane Irma. Although No Name Key and Big Pine were declared mandatory evacuation areas, some residents refused to evacuate. Whether you were here or whether you were evacuated, we all couldn't wait to hear whether the herd had survived the storm. Those first reports of Key Deer sightings after Irma came through were amazing. We all rejoiced!

Since the screw worm outbreak, activists have taken things into their own hands and formed nonprofits to help save the Key Deer. Comprised of Key Deer lovers, protectors, advocates and watchers, one of those groups formed is SaveOurKeyDeer.org. If you haven't checked it out, that is their website - http://SaveOur KeyDeer.org - you can find out the entire history of the Key Deer.

Even as heartbreaking it...]]>On December 13, 1928, this small paragraph appeared in the Key West Citizen. "The Turtelino hunting crowd killed a large deer yesterday on No Name Key. The deer was killed by Eddie Marquez and weighed 90 pounds. Marquez is is the latest one of the crowd to meet success in the hunting expeditions carried our by the Turtelino Organization."

When I saw this paragraph, this one paragraph it made me sick to think about our beautiful key deer being stalked and hunted. So it sent me searching to find out more about why hunting expeditions were allowed in the Florida Keys. As it turns out, there's a long history of deer hunting and the Florida Keys. It flourished in the Keys in the 1930's. Most of the deer hunters were Cubans. They were former cigar makers from Key West and used "explorades", which the Spanish equivalent of hunting guides. It was one of those "explorades", a man named Turtelino, who caught the legendary Le Aeroplano. He was a tiny deer so fast that he seemed to fly. And he alluded hunters for nearly 10 years before he was finally bagged on Big Torch Key. The "explorades" had a profound knowledge of the ways of the deer. They learned that the creatures always fed on the windward side of the Keys, where the wind kept the mosquitoes away. The Key Deer is a subspecies - a smaller version of the Virginia whitetail, less than three feet high at the shoulder. A buck averages 65 to 80 pounds a doe about 40 pounds. Over many years, the deer has adapted to the aquatic world of the Keys.

By the 1930's, hunting had depleted the number of key deer to 20. In 1939, the Florida legislature banned deer hunting in the Keys. Since then, the efforts of many conservationist and agencies have helped the tiny deer make a comeback. The effort culminated in 1963 with the dedication of the National Key Deer Refuge.

The saving of the Key Deer from total extinction is generally credited to one man - Jack Watson. In 1946, Mr. Watson became an officer for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and quickly became the key deer's best friend. Realizing not only how adorable, but also how curiously close to extinction they were, he declared a one man war on poachers and used whatever tactics were necessary. These included disabling their car with bullets to the engine or a gas tank or setting their boats on fire. He also spent much time educating the government and public about the deer and in 1957, when the Key Deer refuge is finally established.

Although they were saved a hair from extinction. The deer were then confronted with major habitat losses during the 1960's, 70's and 80's due to human expansion and construction. Officially put on the endangered species list in 1967, and it remains there today. The major reason is closely linked to its very limited habitat range. Existing population estimates hover around 800 in mid 2017. However, the vast majority are concentrated on Big Pine and No Name Keys - two islands located right next to each other encompassing less than 12 square miles total. The Key Deer also faced a screw worm epidemic in 2016 where approximately 10% of the herd was lost to the horrible screw worm outbreak. A year later, the Key Deer had to survive Hurricane Irma. Although No Name Key and Big Pine were declared mandatory evacuation areas, some residents refused to evacuate. Whether you were here or whether you were evacuated, we all couldn't wait to hear whether the herd had survived the storm. Those first reports of Key Deer sightings after Irma came through were amazing. We all rejoiced!

Since the screw worm outbreak, activists have taken things into their own hands and formed nonprofits to help save the Key Deer. Comprised of Key Deer lovers, protectors, advocates and watchers, one of those groups formed is SaveOurKeyDeer.org. If you haven't checked it out, that is their website - http://SaveOur KeyDeer.org - you can find out the entire history of the Key Deer.

Even as heartbreaking it was it was to read that they were once poached and hunted in the Florida Keys, I'm proud that we've decided to honor them and their heritage here and protect them. So if you want to help this part of Key's history survive, you can visit http://SaveOurKeyDeer.org and contribute and donate. One of the things the group is working on now is being able to get permission and licenses to properly rehabilitate deer that may be injured or hurt so that the population can remain strong. I highly recommend you follow them on Facebook, Save Our Key Deer and visit http://saveourkeydeer.org.

It's a great way to help preserve this historical part of our Key's history.

So I'm proud to say that while disturbing as it was, that today December the 13th 1928, reported a deer kill from a hunting expedition on No Name Key. I'm even more thrilled that we no longer have to worry about that.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about our glorious or disturbing past of the Florida Keys. Visit http://43keys.com. You can get this program and others as an Alexa flash briefing. Just ask Alexa to "Play Today in Key West History" as your flash briefing.

The local history informs us that it was Reverend George Lister, who established the mission in Key West. It was seen as vital to extending the English Wesleyan Methodism to Cuba. While missionaries were sent to Cuba, the overall effort did not produce the hoped for results. Because Catholicism was firmly entrenched in Cuba, and Methodism, was unable to gain many converts.

The congregation in Key West remained as the Mission but for a short time, until it became known as Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church. This was the only English Wesleyan Methodist Church in the United States.

While Methodist societies existed in America as early as 1760, by the late 1800s had become very much its own entity having an independent connection since 1784. Despite the early presence of Methodism in America, the Key West congregation has never held in association with the American Methodist Church.

British Methodist, were not without their factions. In the earlier years, various branches of Methodism sent numerous missionaries out around the world and the English Wesleyan Methodist were no exception. The Bahamas district of the British Connecxion had been established for the area that later included most of the Caribbean. It was through this line that the Key West church had its humble beginnings.

The present Mance was built in 1912, primarily from a cargo of Dade County pine that was salvaged from a ship that had wrecked on the reef. While this was long past the days of the islands famous ship wrecking days, wrecks still occurred. Some research regarding the shipwreck suggests that it may have been a vessel that was found derelict between the Tennessee reef and Coffin Patch and floating upside down in the fall of 1906. The derelict vessels name was not recorded in the Admiralty court records. The vessel's cargo was lumber.

There was not enough wood to complete the entire house, so other material was used randomly in order to prevent a large single location of termite-susceptible wood, according to the builder's son, Alfred Milton Evans, two of the ship's masts were salvaged to find new use as columns on the house. One of the masts became the right front porch column in the corner opposite tower. It's unknown, however, which column is the other former ship mast. The Manse was originally roofed with wooden shingles. The present tin shingle roof was installed entirely by the late AM Evans when he was in his 40s, shortly before he became blind. The house contained a total of 10 rooms. The Manse when built, was designed to withstand sustained hurricane winds of 125 miles an hour, with gusts of 150 miles an hour. Under the clapboard siding, the Manse has a layer of diagonal Board of Dade County pine, each board is fully one inch thick, and roughly 14 inches wide. Water from the Manse came from the church roof as well by the back porch. The first church building extended out over the cistern covering about two thirds of it based on the dimensions the cistern and holds about 20,000 gallons of water. It's not really known what yearr the system was constructed.

The church first built in 1901, seated 500 people and had a small pipe organ. This building was destroyed in the 1909 hurricane, the building's remains were salvaged and a new facility built, only to be destroyed by another hurricane a year later. The current building on this location was built in 1924, and it was designed to withstand sustained hurricane winds of 150 to 175 miles an hour.

In the 1940s, tired of the difficulty in getting ministers from England, the congregation voted to become Presbyterian. A large group that did not favor that change split off and went around the corner to build their own church, retaining the original name - Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church. Two congregations with common routes were divided by only a name.

And]]>The congregation was originally known as the "Gulf of Mexico Mission with Cayo Hueso".

The local history informs us that it was Reverend George Lister, who established the mission in Key West. It was seen as vital to extending the English Wesleyan Methodism to Cuba. While missionaries were sent to Cuba, the overall effort did not produce the hoped for results. Because Catholicism was firmly entrenched in Cuba, and Methodism, was unable to gain many converts.

The congregation in Key West remained as the Mission but for a short time, until it became known as Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church. This was the only English Wesleyan Methodist Church in the United States.

While Methodist societies existed in America as early as 1760, by the late 1800s had become very much its own entity having an independent connection since 1784. Despite the early presence of Methodism in America, the Key West congregation has never held in association with the American Methodist Church.

British Methodist, were not without their factions. In the earlier years, various branches of Methodism sent numerous missionaries out around the world and the English Wesleyan Methodist were no exception. The Bahamas district of the British Connecxion had been established for the area that later included most of the Caribbean. It was through this line that the Key West church had its humble beginnings.

The present Mance was built in 1912, primarily from a cargo of Dade County pine that was salvaged from a ship that had wrecked on the reef. While this was long past the days of the islands famous ship wrecking days, wrecks still occurred. Some research regarding the shipwreck suggests that it may have been a vessel that was found derelict between the Tennessee reef and Coffin Patch and floating upside down in the fall of 1906. The derelict vessels name was not recorded in the Admiralty court records. The vessel's cargo was lumber.

There was not enough wood to complete the entire house, so other material was used randomly in order to prevent a large single location of termite-susceptible wood, according to the builder's son, Alfred Milton Evans, two of the ship's masts were salvaged to find new use as columns on the house. One of the masts became the right front porch column in the corner opposite tower. It's unknown, however, which column is the other former ship mast. The Manse was originally roofed with wooden shingles. The present tin shingle roof was installed entirely by the late AM Evans when he was in his 40s, shortly before he became blind. The house contained a total of 10 rooms. The Manse when built, was designed to withstand sustained hurricane winds of 125 miles an hour, with gusts of 150 miles an hour. Under the clapboard siding, the Manse has a layer of diagonal Board of Dade County pine, each board is fully one inch thick, and roughly 14 inches wide. Water from the Manse came from the church roof as well by the back porch. The first church building extended out over the cistern covering about two thirds of it based on the dimensions the cistern and holds about 20,000 gallons of water. It's not really known what yearr the system was constructed.

The church first built in 1901, seated 500 people and had a small pipe organ. This building was destroyed in the 1909 hurricane, the building's remains were salvaged and a new facility built, only to be destroyed by another hurricane a year later. The current building on this location was built in 1924, and it was designed to withstand sustained hurricane winds of 150 to 175 miles an hour.

In the 1940s, tired of the difficulty in getting ministers from England, the congregation voted to become Presbyterian. A large group that did not favor that change split off and went around the corner to build their own church, retaining the original name - Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church. Two congregations with common routes were divided by only a name.

And it was today December 12, 1893, that the Reverend George Lester founded the Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church in Key West. The ministers from the church came from the Bahamas, but during the Depression, this stopped. It was on May 12, 1931, that the church officially changed its denomination to Presbyterian.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media.

If you're interested in all things that are going on in the beautiful Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com. You can also get this program as well as others as an Alexa flash briefing. Just tell Alexa to "Play Today in Key West History as your flash briefing."

 Resources:

Florida Memory

The Key West Citizen

Since Hoffa died, and his body has never been recovered, news continues to surface from time and again claiming to know the whereabouts of the body. Hoffa disappeared back in 1975, after publicly meeting with a couple of mob type goons in Detroit. It was at a local restaurant and then he was never seen again. Many stories have been told about where the body lies, but this particular account of one of those tales comes from Bob Beer.

"During the spring of 1976, I was working as a waiter at The Trade Winds Restaurant, near the Key West airport. One evening, a team from 60 Minutes came in for dinner and somewhat secretive shop talk. They were not the blown-hair powder-puffed-up TV news readers, but camera operators, researchers and assorted support personnel. Snatched pieces of table chat reveal they were in Key West to look for the body of Jimmy Hoffa. I'd heard that Hoffa had been in Key West before to look into purchasing the then shutter Casa Marina Resort as a nice home for retired truckers. And that's funny. The news of the Hoffa search was revealed during our regular after work, "cocktail and bull sessions" among some of the restaurants workers - from the top chef to the recently hired busboy. Sharing table talk of our customers became a form of entertainment for us. Afterwards, at the news of the Hoffa search, we all started paying closer attention. After about a week of such TV dinners and piecing together information gleaned from various waiters, busboys and bartenders. We learned that 60 Minutes had been approached by a man who claimed to know the location where the mob had dumped off his body far off the Key West Coast.

The informant reportedly a mob hitman, with intimate knowledge of Hoffa's disappearance had demanded $10,000 in cash, which was a right tidy sum back in 1976, and he demanded it up front before he would reveal to the TV crew where Hoffa's body probably had been digested into a tourist season's worth of Lobster Thermidor dinners. The man had quickly partied away way that 10 large with hookers, liquor and cocaine during a depraved-filled period in New Orleans and Vegas Baby! before he would even meet with the TV crew.

When the 60 Minutes crew had not come to The Trade Winds for working dinner several nights in a row, we anxiously awaited word on the adventure when the crew did return. They look dazed and even more cynical than most journalists. Table talk revealed the man in question had directed them near some far off dinky Island, arriving on rented cabin cruisers, along with the underwater cameraman. The informant had donned a wet suit, mask, flippers and oxygen tank and leaped into the surging Gulf of Mexico to earn his pay. As soon as the informant jumped into the ocean, the fabric of his tip began to unravel. 'We knew we had been screwed. We had to pull him from the water to keep him from drowning.' One now wise guy said with a mouthful of poached snapper. "He couldn't even swim!" Gloomy shots of expense account whiskey failed to offer the fact that the TV crew had been had!

It was later revealed that the informant was indeed a convicted murderer who escaped from the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary a few months earlier. He was serving life for murder....]]>On December the 9, 1961, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa was in Key West inspecting the once grand Casa Marina hotel. It was a hotel that the Teamsters had recently acquired. He later least the hotel to the US military, and it was used for military housing. Less than a year later, on November 26, 1962, when JFK was in Key West. His motorcade went by the Casa Marina so he could see where the military was housed. Not really sure the historical records don't reflect whether JFK knew that the military was actually leasing the property from his brother's arch nemesis. And while some believe Hoffa was involved in the murder of JFK, it was actually his own murder that provides the context for our story today.

Since Hoffa died, and his body has never been recovered, news continues to surface from time and again claiming to know the whereabouts of the body. Hoffa disappeared back in 1975, after publicly meeting with a couple of mob type goons in Detroit. It was at a local restaurant and then he was never seen again. Many stories have been told about where the body lies, but this particular account of one of those tales comes from Bob Beer.

"During the spring of 1976, I was working as a waiter at The Trade Winds Restaurant, near the Key West airport. One evening, a team from 60 Minutes came in for dinner and somewhat secretive shop talk. They were not the blown-hair powder-puffed-up TV news readers, but camera operators, researchers and assorted support personnel. Snatched pieces of table chat reveal they were in Key West to look for the body of Jimmy Hoffa. I'd heard that Hoffa had been in Key West before to look into purchasing the then shutter Casa Marina Resort as a nice home for retired truckers. And that's funny. The news of the Hoffa search was revealed during our regular after work, "cocktail and bull sessions" among some of the restaurants workers - from the top chef to the recently hired busboy. Sharing table talk of our customers became a form of entertainment for us. Afterwards, at the news of the Hoffa search, we all started paying closer attention. After about a week of such TV dinners and piecing together information gleaned from various waiters, busboys and bartenders. We learned that 60 Minutes had been approached by a man who claimed to know the location where the mob had dumped off his body far off the Key West Coast.

The informant reportedly a mob hitman, with intimate knowledge of Hoffa's disappearance had demanded $10,000 in cash, which was a right tidy sum back in 1976, and he demanded it up front before he would reveal to the TV crew where Hoffa's body probably had been digested into a tourist season's worth of Lobster Thermidor dinners. The man had quickly partied away way that 10 large with hookers, liquor and cocaine during a depraved-filled period in New Orleans and Vegas Baby! before he would even meet with the TV crew.

When the 60 Minutes crew had not come to The Trade Winds for working dinner several nights in a row, we anxiously awaited word on the adventure when the crew did return. They look dazed and even more cynical than most journalists. Table talk revealed the man in question had directed them near some far off dinky Island, arriving on rented cabin cruisers, along with the underwater cameraman. The informant had donned a wet suit, mask, flippers and oxygen tank and leaped into the surging Gulf of Mexico to earn his pay. As soon as the informant jumped into the ocean, the fabric of his tip began to unravel. 'We knew we had been screwed. We had to pull him from the water to keep him from drowning.' One now wise guy said with a mouthful of poached snapper. "He couldn't even swim!" Gloomy shots of expense account whiskey failed to offer the fact that the TV crew had been had!

It was later revealed that the informant was indeed a convicted murderer who escaped from the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary a few months earlier. He was serving life for murder. Realizing it was just a matter of time before he was recaptured, the wily con came up with that wild scheme and had played 60 Minutes like a well dressed, Carney works and naive barefoot Kansas farm boy in overalls. The TV news program swallowed the con's tale, hook, line, and sinker."

So it seems that even though it was a bust, it was today December 11, 1975, that CBS news was reported to be looking for the body of missing former Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared mysteriously on July 29. The informant had told CBS that Hoffa's body was encased in concrete lying on the ocean floor in 12 feet of water, two and a half miles off of Key West. But alas, nothing was found.

And that's what happened or what didn't happen today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you want to learn more about our glorious or fabricated past and our amazing future visit http://43keys.com. This program is available as an Alexa flash briefing to enable that just ask Alexa to play "Today in Key West History" as your flash briefing.

After they were separated, he went away but returned in an hour with the pistol, allowing his intention of killing Jones bystanders interfered and induced him to leave, but he returned shortly still determined to kill Jones, Mr. JOHN Wilson, who was Sherwood's friend and partner then stepped up and asked him to give up the pistol. He refused, and said he would shoot any man who attempted to take it. Wilson then laid his hand on Sherwood shoulder, and again asked him to give it up when Sherwood shot him, and he died.

A few minutes later, Sherwood remarked that he regretted Wilson's death, but it was his own fault, as he had told him that he would shoot anyone who attempted to take the pistol from him for he firmly intended to shoot Jones and would allow no man to prevent him that. Wilson had attempted to do this. And he shot him believing he had the perfect right to do so.

The prisoner Sherwood was defended by attorneys Thurston and Braden. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death, the place where Sherwood was confined, was insecure, and he had several occasions to escape and being asked why he had not done so he replied, "They want to hang someone for a pattern, and I guess I'll gratify them."

And so it was today, December the 10th, 1830, that Norman Sherwood became the first man that was ever hanged on the gallows erected in Key West.

And that's what happened today in Key West history!

Today in people West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you want to learn more about our glorious or grisly past, you can visit http://43keys.com. This program as well as others are also available as an Alexa flash briefing. In order to enable that just tell Alexa to play "Today in Key West History" as your flash briefing.

The Big Pine Key shark facility was built in 1923 by Hydenoil Products to catch and process sharks for various commercials uses. The company's name was derived from the two principal products - hides for sharkskin leather and oil from the liver fork medicine. The campus located on the eastern shore of big pine key about two miles north of the railroad bridge when it opens, and it employed about 25 men and operated six shark fishing boats. In addition to a 400 foot pier extending into the deeper water of the Bogie Channel.

There was a marine railway for hauling the carcasses to shore. Large kettles for boiling livers under the palmetto roof shed and racks for drying and repairing nets and various office in storage buildings. The sharks were called in huge nets up to 600 feet in length, and 15 feet in depth with a nine inch square mesh. The tops of the nets were buoyed with wood floats, and the bottoms were held down with lead weights. When a shark hit the net, it would continue to charge ahead and thrash about furiously during its struggles, the net cords would slip behind the sharps gills and interfere with its breathing. Most of the sharks will be dead from drowning when the nets were hauled. One exception was the selfish and more lethargic type of sharp which usually had to be clubbed to death taking care to avoid the wildly swinging saw. Some of the monsters weigh close to 1000 pounds and reach nearly 20 feet in length, so getting them aboard a boat, even with the aid of block and tackle was a Herculean task.

The species most often caught were leopard, dusky Hammerhead, nurse, sand sharks. Of these the sawfish was the most valuable because it yielded the largest hides and had the best vitamins in its liver. In the first four months of operation Hydenoil boats took 5000 sharks. Single day catches of 50 sharks were common, and on one occasion the catch approached 200.

In that first year, one of the boats caught an 18 foot lemon shark weighing 901 pounds. By 1930 close to 100, sharks, averaging seven feet in length were being caught every single day. The fisherman found all sorts of unusual objects when they cut the sharks stomach, open among them, a barrel of salt pork and the entire hindquarters of a key deer but the most grizzly find was made by Captain W. E. Young, a shark fishing expert who wrote a book entitled "Shark! Shark!" while in the employ of Hydenoil.

In January 1923, Young caught a 12 foot brown shark of Big Pine Key. Upon slicing open the belly, he found a human arm and hand and a piece of blue serge cloth. From immediate inquiries, he learned that an Arrowmarine Airways sea plane had crashed in the sea about 20 miles from Havana the day before he called the shark. A lifeboat from the railroad car ferry, Henry Flagler had managed to rescue the pilot, the mechanic and four passengers, but four other passengers were not recovered. The piece of cloth identified the sharks victim as one of the missing passengers.

Upon returning to Big Pine Key, the fishermen offloaded the sharks with a big crane at the end of the pier. Several men rapidly cutaway the hides with sharp knives. They loaded the carcass and hides onto a flat car riding on a marine railway, which was then winched to shore to the processing facility. In February 1923, Hydenoil announced that it had developed a new apparatus which greatly reduced skinning time the workers lowered a shark into the device]]>Joe Whalton recalls that a visit to the shark camp on Big Pine Key was a favorite activity during his boyhood stays at a nearby family vacation retreat. "The place was close enough that we could see it and smell it. There were times it was really ripe. A whole bunch of us would pull our schull a boat up to watch them skin the sharks. Sometimes, we got in the way, but the workers most of them blacks were real nice. They would never holler at us and they got a kick out of watching us dig out the shark eyeballs."

The Big Pine Key shark facility was built in 1923 by Hydenoil Products to catch and process sharks for various commercials uses. The company's name was derived from the two principal products - hides for sharkskin leather and oil from the liver fork medicine. The campus located on the eastern shore of big pine key about two miles north of the railroad bridge when it opens, and it employed about 25 men and operated six shark fishing boats. In addition to a 400 foot pier extending into the deeper water of the Bogie Channel.

There was a marine railway for hauling the carcasses to shore. Large kettles for boiling livers under the palmetto roof shed and racks for drying and repairing nets and various office in storage buildings. The sharks were called in huge nets up to 600 feet in length, and 15 feet in depth with a nine inch square mesh. The tops of the nets were buoyed with wood floats, and the bottoms were held down with lead weights. When a shark hit the net, it would continue to charge ahead and thrash about furiously during its struggles, the net cords would slip behind the sharps gills and interfere with its breathing. Most of the sharks will be dead from drowning when the nets were hauled. One exception was the selfish and more lethargic type of sharp which usually had to be clubbed to death taking care to avoid the wildly swinging saw. Some of the monsters weigh close to 1000 pounds and reach nearly 20 feet in length, so getting them aboard a boat, even with the aid of block and tackle was a Herculean task.

The species most often caught were leopard, dusky Hammerhead, nurse, sand sharks. Of these the sawfish was the most valuable because it yielded the largest hides and had the best vitamins in its liver. In the first four months of operation Hydenoil boats took 5000 sharks. Single day catches of 50 sharks were common, and on one occasion the catch approached 200.

In that first year, one of the boats caught an 18 foot lemon shark weighing 901 pounds. By 1930 close to 100, sharks, averaging seven feet in length were being caught every single day. The fisherman found all sorts of unusual objects when they cut the sharks stomach, open among them, a barrel of salt pork and the entire hindquarters of a key deer but the most grizzly find was made by Captain W. E. Young, a shark fishing expert who wrote a book entitled "Shark! Shark!" while in the employ of Hydenoil.

In January 1923, Young caught a 12 foot brown shark of Big Pine Key. Upon slicing open the belly, he found a human arm and hand and a piece of blue serge cloth. From immediate inquiries, he learned that an Arrowmarine Airways sea plane had crashed in the sea about 20 miles from Havana the day before he called the shark. A lifeboat from the railroad car ferry, Henry Flagler had managed to rescue the pilot, the mechanic and four passengers, but four other passengers were not recovered. The piece of cloth identified the sharks victim as one of the missing passengers.

Upon returning to Big Pine Key, the fishermen offloaded the sharks with a big crane at the end of the pier. Several men rapidly cutaway the hides with sharp knives. They loaded the carcass and hides onto a flat car riding on a marine railway, which was then winched to shore to the processing facility. In February 1923, Hydenoil announced that it had developed a new apparatus which greatly reduced skinning time the workers lowered a shark into the device and cut the hide partially away near the head and clamped it and then literally hoisted the shark out of its skin. Other processing improvements that you're cut the curing time for fresh highs from 30 days to 24 hours. The facility shipped dry hides North via the overseas railroad for attaining and processing into leather. Shark leather is stronger than most leathers, soft and pliable, takes die readily and can be used to make almost any article of leather, including shoes. After the sharks were offloaded, the boat crews took their nets to shore and spread them out on racks for drying and repairing. There was always damage particularly from sawfish that would slash great holes in the net. One man kept busy continuously making repairs.

Shark livers were cut out and reduced to oil in large double boilers under a shed. Approximately 75% of the liver was oil rich in vitamins. It was sold as a medicine. Spongers also use the oil to calm and clarify the water surface on breezy days.

A couple who visited the camp in 1926 observed the operations and commented that the place was kept quite clean, considering the nature of work. They saw a number of men skinning sharks with knives, which would indicate that the marvelous skinning apparatus was no longer in use. Other men cut the white shark meat into large slabs, which were insulted compressed and heavy presses and laid out to dry on long chicken wire fences.

Shark fins found a ready market in the Orient, where they were considered a delicacy. Hardly any of the shark was wasted when boiled, the heads yielded large quantity of glue. Insulin for treating diabetes was obtained from the pancreas. The teeth and jaws were sold as curios and the vertebrae were made into walking canes. Harold Terry a Big Pine Key, remembered seeing shark skeleton spread out over an acre of cleared land to dry, after which they were ground up to make fertilizer.

And it was today December 9, 1930 that the Hydenoil products company on Big Pine Key reported that one of its boats brought in a mackerel shark that was 14 and a half feet in length and 10 feet in circumference with a weight of 1752 pounds. The company had seven boats in service and on December 8th, brought in 111 sharks averaging a little more than 300 pounds each.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media.

You'd like to learn more about the glorious or even the grizzly past of the Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com. This program as well as others are available as an Alexa flash briefing. Just tell Alexa to play "Today in Key West history" as your flash briefing.

**The content in today's episode is an excerpt from The Florida Keys: History of the Pioneers by John Viele. This is part of a 3 volume set available on Amazon.

Photo courtesy of John Sands. 

At least 3119 African men, women and children headed for Cuban ports were intercepted by Navy ships in 1860 alone. Most eventually returned to Liberia a country peopled largely by recaptured Africans, but not all were returned to Africa. In 1863, slavers as the ships recalled were captured with 1400 slaves who cheered and clapped their hands when the Navy freed them and brought them to Key West. While most would sail back to Africa 80 days later, 294 of them would not. Never realizing the Key West, their new land of liberation would be the last place they would ever see. They would all die of typhoid fever and dysentery and lie buried unnamed, and in an unnamed cemetery that became a public beach.

The Wildfire was one of the clippers running slaves that ended up in Key West waters. Built in Philadelphia in 1855. It sailed from New York in December 16, 1859, and with an American crew made a run to St. Thomas and then sailed for the Congo River. The captain of the USS Mohawk, wrote a letter June 8, 1860, after capturing the Wildfire, and described what he saw. "The slaves are packed below in as dense a mass as it would be possible for human beings to be crowded the space a lot of them being in general, about four feet high between the decks with little ventilation, these unfortunate people pass their days and nights emits the most horribly offensive odors of which the mind can conceive under the scorching heat of the tropical sun without room enough to sleep with scarcely space to die in the passage to the West Indies varies from 40 to 60 days and their sufferings are incredible."

As to what the people faced when they arrived in the Key West of 1860, a town of about 3000. Here's a quote from the Congressional Globe..." both on account of the deficiency of water and provisions and its exposure to the yellow fever, Key West is one of the worst spots for an African slave depot which could be found on the coast of the US." A more stark realization of the ultimate ending of the 294 can be discovered at the Islamorada library. It's a copy of a receipt dated Key West September 11 1860.

And the receipt was for making coffins and burying 294 deceased African slaves from the ships of the Wildfire, William and Name Unknown by order of F. J. Moreno, US Marshal. At $5.50 each for a total of $1617.

Archaeologists have confirmed that Higgs Beach was the site of the original slave cemetery for Key West. But after the hurricane washed it away (some bodies were found in trees), what did not get destroyed, was moved to the present City Cemetery.

F.J. Marino moved to Key West from Pensacola, Florida in 1836. His hobby was riding a pacing pony on Key West streets. He was slightly deaf and carried a silver ear trumpet over his left arm while riding the pony. He liked to tell about the time a young woman mistaking the trumpet for a cornet asked him, "Old man, when are you going to give your concert? You must be good. You always have your cornet and I would like to hear you play." So it turns out that the F.J. Marino who was the US Marshal and ordered 294 coffins for the African slaves on September 11 of 1860 also had a different job before then.

Because it was today, December 8, 1852, that Fernando Joaquin Moreno was elected as Mayor of Key West........ and that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. This show is also available as an Alexa...]]>There's nothing but saying there today. But 140 years ago, nearly 300 Africans were buried on what is now Higgs beach victims of slavery. It was 1858 and us warships had been ordered to enforce the anti slave trade laws. Five ships patrolled the Florida straits or slave merchants, for the tobacco and sugar fields of Cuba and Puerto Rico maintained vigorous commerce for human cargo with several African coastal states and principalities, including the king of the African state of Dahomey.

At least 3119 African men, women and children headed for Cuban ports were intercepted by Navy ships in 1860 alone. Most eventually returned to Liberia a country peopled largely by recaptured Africans, but not all were returned to Africa. In 1863, slavers as the ships recalled were captured with 1400 slaves who cheered and clapped their hands when the Navy freed them and brought them to Key West. While most would sail back to Africa 80 days later, 294 of them would not. Never realizing the Key West, their new land of liberation would be the last place they would ever see. They would all die of typhoid fever and dysentery and lie buried unnamed, and in an unnamed cemetery that became a public beach.

The Wildfire was one of the clippers running slaves that ended up in Key West waters. Built in Philadelphia in 1855. It sailed from New York in December 16, 1859, and with an American crew made a run to St. Thomas and then sailed for the Congo River. The captain of the USS Mohawk, wrote a letter June 8, 1860, after capturing the Wildfire, and described what he saw. "The slaves are packed below in as dense a mass as it would be possible for human beings to be crowded the space a lot of them being in general, about four feet high between the decks with little ventilation, these unfortunate people pass their days and nights emits the most horribly offensive odors of which the mind can conceive under the scorching heat of the tropical sun without room enough to sleep with scarcely space to die in the passage to the West Indies varies from 40 to 60 days and their sufferings are incredible."

As to what the people faced when they arrived in the Key West of 1860, a town of about 3000. Here's a quote from the Congressional Globe..." both on account of the deficiency of water and provisions and its exposure to the yellow fever, Key West is one of the worst spots for an African slave depot which could be found on the coast of the US." A more stark realization of the ultimate ending of the 294 can be discovered at the Islamorada library. It's a copy of a receipt dated Key West September 11 1860.

And the receipt was for making coffins and burying 294 deceased African slaves from the ships of the Wildfire, William and Name Unknown by order of F. J. Moreno, US Marshal. At $5.50 each for a total of $1617.

Archaeologists have confirmed that Higgs Beach was the site of the original slave cemetery for Key West. But after the hurricane washed it away (some bodies were found in trees), what did not get destroyed, was moved to the present City Cemetery.

F.J. Marino moved to Key West from Pensacola, Florida in 1836. His hobby was riding a pacing pony on Key West streets. He was slightly deaf and carried a silver ear trumpet over his left arm while riding the pony. He liked to tell about the time a young woman mistaking the trumpet for a cornet asked him, "Old man, when are you going to give your concert? You must be good. You always have your cornet and I would like to hear you play." So it turns out that the F.J. Marino who was the US Marshal and ordered 294 coffins for the African slaves on September 11 of 1860 also had a different job before then.

Because it was today, December 8, 1852, that Fernando Joaquin Moreno was elected as Mayor of Key West........ and that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. This show is also available as an Alexa flash briefing, visit http://43keys.com To find out more about our glorious past and all that's currently going on in our beautiful Florida Keys.

When she visits Charleston with her cousin Priscilla, Loxie schemes to win a plum captain's position for Jack by seducing Steve Tolliver, who's running the sailing ship line for which Jack works. Steve falls for Loxie and returns with her to Key West to investigate the truth about Jack's shipwreck.

Drusilla goes home to Havana when Loxie and Steve returned to Key West. Steve has come to rid the Keys of pirates like Cutler and to be near Loxie. Cutler, in turn arranges to have Steve Shanghai'd by the crew of a whaler. Loxie hears the plot and gets Jack to help her save Steve. Later they discover that Steve concealed Jack's appointment to the steamship Southern Cross on orders from his superior.

Angry over a seemingly underhanded act. Jack meets with Cutler and he learns that Steve's boss had just died and that Steve will be taking over the shipping line. Jack realizes that he's unlikely to keep his command with Steph in charge and agrees to work with Cutler to sabotage his new ship. He sails to Havana to take command.

Rumors circulate and prices of the cargo of the Southern Cross fluctuate wildly, leaving Steve to suspecta wreck is planned. He commandeers the Claiborn with Lokie on board and sails to Havana to stop Jack.

Loxie, believing jack is innocent disables her ship and they sit becalmed in a fog bank as the Southern Cross piles into the reef and sinks. Unknown to Jack, Drusilla had stowed away to be with her lover, King Cutler's brother Dan and she drowned.

Jack is put on trial for wrecking his ship. The testimony reveals a woman may have been on board but none was rescued. To determine if a woman was in the wreck, Steve agrees to dive to the wreck with Jack. While down in the wreck, Jack and Steve discover proof that Drusilla was on board and had been drowned.

They are attacked by a giant squid. Jack saves Steve's life but was lost when the Southern Cross slips off the continental shelf into the deep water. Dan Cutler accuses his brother of murder and is shot dead by him. Whereupon, Steve shoots King Cutler killing him. Loxie and Steve return to Charleston together.

Reap The Wild Wind is a 1942 adventure film starring Ray Milland and John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Robert Preston and Susan Hayward and directed by Cecil B. de Mille. His second picture to be filmed in color. It's based on a serialized story written by Thelma Strabel in 1944, for the Saturday Evening Post.

The movie released shortly after the United States entry into World War II and was a swashbuckling adventure set in the 1840s along the Florida coast and was wildly successful. While he based his film on Strabel's story, de Mille took liberties with the details such as the sibling relationships and subplots, while staying true to the spirit of the story, which centers on a head strong, independent woman, portrayed by Paulette Goddard

And it was today December 7, 1940, that author Thelma Strabell moved into hrr new house by the Southernmost Point. She's best remembered for her novel, Reap the Wild Wind, the story about the Key West wreckers that was made into a movie.

And that's what happened Today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media.

To learn about our glorious past and our amazing future in the Florida Keys, visit As the film opens, Loxie Claiborne is running a marine salvage business started by her deceased father. A hurricane is passing through the Key West area leaving behind at least one wreck on the nearby shoals. The Jubilee founders and Loxie and other salvagers race to claim the cargo. Not arriving first, Loxie and her crew rescue the Captain jack Stewart, but do not share in the salvage rights. Apparently the first salver on the scene, King Cutler may have actually planned the wreck. Nursing Jack back to health, Loxie falls in love with him.

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In a short three months, the naval flight exhibit team performed at its first flight demonstration on June 15, 1946 at their home base, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. Lieutenant Commander Roy "Butch" Boris led the team and flew the Grumman F6- F5 Hellcat. The new Navy flight exhibition team was only the second formal flying demonstration team to have been created in the world since the Patrouille de France formed in 1931. The team was introduced as the Blue Angels at a show in Omaha, Nebraska in July of 1946. Right wing pilot Lieutenant Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll came across the name in the New Yorker Magazine and a column called Goings on About Town. Voris said, "That sounds great! The Blue Angels -Navy, Blue and Flying!". That first year the team also employed in North American aviation SNJ-5 Texan, later known as T-6, which was painted and configured to simulate a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero and flown to simulate arial combat. It was painted yellow and affectionately named "Beetle Bomb". The team continue to use the "Beetle Bomb" in their performances, but later traded it in for a Grumman. F8F1- Bear cat, the same aircraft, the team transition to on August 25, 1946.

A big loss came to the Blue Angels when on September 29, 1946, slot pilot, Lieutenant JG "Ross" Robinson failed to recover from a dive while perform the Cuban 8, maneuver at NAS Jacksonville and was killed. Robinson died only four shows before the end of the season and became the first of 26 Blue Angel pilot fatalities in the team's 70 year history. In 1947, flight leader commander Robert "Bob" Clark introduce the now famous Blue Angels diamond formation. With the new formation the team introduced to new maneuvers, the diamond loop and the diamond barrel roll - two maneuvers that are still performed today.

The following year, in the fall of 1948, the team moved to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1949, flight Lt. Commander Rollie "Dusty" Rose designed the first official Blue Angels insignia or crest. It is nearly identical to the current design - only the aircraft silhouettes in the cloud have changed with each aircraft the team has flown.

It was today December 6, 1960 that the Navy announced that the Blue Angels the world famous precision flying team would return to NAS Key West in January for their six weeks winter training schedule.

For several years thereafter, from 1958 to 1962, the Blue Angels could be found every winter holding their trainings at NAS Key West.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media to learn more about our glorious past and our amazing future in the beautiful Florida Keys visit h43keys.com.

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standing strong like a ship on land. It already embarked on a journey a long time ago, and I just happened to board on one of its many pit stops. I would come across small odd clues and reminisces hidden and cradled in would have forgotten ghost and on an Easter hot I started collecting questions. Why is there different layers of bright neon green paint under the door Brown, fresh painted fours? Why is there a photo of a man with a goat staring at me from its buckled copper friend?

Why is this house full of antique gaudy Italian carved mirrors with crumbling flying cherubs?

This is how I got acquainted with Henry fault, his art and his flagrant life.

Henry fault now was born in Egypt, Kentucky, into a sad childhood that has the makings of an Edgar Allan Poe tale. From a volatile Father to the slow death of his Mother his sensitive nature was formed and overcast by becoming an orphan dumped into the welfare system moving from one to the other foster family. He even had a foster mother in remote Appalachia that treated him like a girl that she rather wanted. His adult life was peppered with debilitating incidents like being mugged with a hammer as an adult, with a blow to the head discrimination against being gay. That included slurs and beatings and after all these sets, any other human might have sunk into self pity, but not Henry, his insecurities and pain poured like a syrup into manifestations of poetry, art and a flamboyant lifestyle.

He became best friends with Tennessee Williams, the Bertolt Brecht, family, and befriended Ernest Hemingway. In his Key West days, he became the life and heartbeat of many parties and art gatherings. He also became the savior of the outcast, and forgotten any animal that he could find abandoned and tortured. He will rescue and become part of his own bizarre family that included Alice the goat. The rumor goes that he had painted the floors in the house green so that Alice could feel more at home galloping through the pastures.

He wrote numerous poetry and was a prolific painter. Currently his house is in the Bertolt Brecht family trust, since his son Stephen and Henry Faulkner were good friends. We are the temporary careful takers of this property. It is one of the last untouched houses in Key West that stayed exactly the same for the last five decades without any additions or changes. It still has a will on the yard and the kitchen is separate from the house built to prevent the spread of fire. There's even a couple of movies shot in the house like criss cross with building hone in 1992. Okay, well, let's just say that wasn't the greatest movie ever.

I was told by a neighbor that has lived on the lane his whole life that Henry thought and Tennessee Williams had major parties. The two would sit on the front balcony and some Navy sailors would parade down the lane and only the selected ones were allowed to enter to join the party. No wonder this house has good vibes. I cringe for the day that this house will be turned into the rest of key West's now sterile "meringue cake" houses that are buff and overly manicured by rich out of towners.

But for now enjoy the character of old Key West the days of poets, hippies, and famous riders. When I work in my studio, I feel a solidarity almost as if Henry is peeking over my shoulder with that sweet Mona Lisa smile of his it was today December 5 in 1981 that artists Henry Faulkner was killed in a car crash in his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. He was killed by a drunk driver. Faulkner spent many years as a winter resident at Key West and that's what happened today in Key West history.

This reader was paid by the factory workers to be books, poetry, and daily newspapers. While they work on the third floor, the tobacco was both stored and sorted to the best grade of tobacco leaves that was chosen for the outer layer of the cigars. In 1915, the original building was destroyed by fire.

Construction of a new fireproof factory started in 1916, and was finally completed in 1920, during the construction of the new factory. Eduardo Gato moved his operations to several buildings on the island that had been vacated by the cigar companies that have relocated to Tampa when Eduardo Hidalgo Gato open the new factory in Key West. He did everything he could to ensure that he had the best cigar artisans working under his roof to better the lives of his workers. He built a city of 40 cigar makers cottages around his factory started the first street car system, created a hospital and supported a baseball league.

The average day of factory workers was very structured Saunders would arrange the Cuban tobacco leaves into 20 shades of brown, the most expensive leaves were used for the wrapper. The rollers knew exactly how many tobacco leaves to roll into cigars each day. All the rollers had their own rolling tables, and were paid by the number of cigars they crafted each day, a good roller could produce an average of 300 cigars a day, the factory itself was illuminated only by natural sunlight. cigar factories were typically built on a north south axis, so that the windows face the east and west. The maximizing the hours of sunlight in the Gato factory employed 500 workers and produce 70,000 cigars every single day in December of the factory output reached 400,000 cigars a week. From 1899-1905 Key West averaged $2.3 million a year in cigar exports.

Eduardo Gato's house located at 1209 Virginia Street, with its elaborate Queen and style detailing was built in 1911 by E.H. Gato, Sr. The Gato family was one of Key West most prominent families and three generations of the family lived here all the way up until 1951. Eduardo Gato was a Cuban patriot who helped finance Cuba's revolutionary leaders, including Jose Marti who fought for freedom from Spain.

Gato came to Key West in 1874 he was instrumental in Key West evolution from a small fishing town to one of Florida's wealthiest cities through his development of the Cuban tobacco industry gotta was president of the E.H. Gato Cigar Company, Vice President of the Key West Bank and proprietor of the Key West streetcar a horse drawn system and oversaw the extensive Gato real estate holdings.

In 1911. Eduardo Gato donated his house to become a hospital with the stipulation that it would be called Mercedes hospital after his wife Mercedes. On a side note this property at 1209 Virginia street is currently for sale its list price, $3.85 million.

It was today, December 4, 1926 that Eduardo Hidalgo Gato died in Havana, Cuba.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. To learn more about Key West's glorious past and what's going on currently on the island visit http://43keys.com you can get this show as an Alexa flash briefing as well as the Florida Keys, Fishing and Weather report every day as an Alexa flash briefing. To find out more visit http://43keys.com.

Castro's unilateral opening worked and the United States welcomed some 5000 Cubans to Miami in just a few weeks, and Castro was able to defuse a serious domestic crisis in November and agreement between Cuba and the United States resulted in the Cuban airlift, which ultimately transported to 265,000 refugees to the United States. The Camarioca boat Lift and the subsequent airlift took the Johnson administration by surprise, but the president followed his predecessors policies. He stressed the Cubans desire for freedom, and provided direct federal aid to Florida and the refugees nothing was done to prevent future boat lifts the United States simply hope that Castro would not permit them again. Carioca, however, was only a prelude.

Seven years after the end of the Cuban airlift, Castro launched and even bigger boat Lyft in the Port of Mariel and Havana. Again, there was little the US government could do to stop the frantic one way sea traffic from Havana to Key West.

President Jimmy Carter eventually invoked the unwritten open door policy to admit the 125,000 Cubans who crossed the Florida straits. During the five months the boat lift was an operation, as in the case of Camarioca.

In 1965, and the Cuban airlift of 1966 to 73, Castro unilaterally opened and close the doors to the United States at his convenience.

And it was today December 2, 1965 that the Cuban boat lift from Matanzas Bay ended when the first airliner with 93 refugees landed in Miami.

During the boat lift 4598 refugees came through the port of Key West.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you like this show, you can hear it as an Alexa flash briefing or as a podcast on iTunes. Any other place you listen to your podcast. We also have other shows about weather and fishing reports that are Alexa flash briefings and podcasts to find out everything you want to know about the beautiful Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com.

Preventing yellow fever became an essential part of life in Florida, and entire communities were built and developed to provide a place for those who could afford it to get away from the sickly downtown areas during the summer months.

Yellow Fever even affected the social seasons as many businesses and schools just closed down during the hottest month of the year to avoid the danger as more people moved into Florida, and transportation by rail became faster and more common. Well, the yellow fever epidemics became larger and even deadlier.

A series of outbreaks emerged in cities across the state infecting thousands of workers and wrecking local commerce. Larger port cities like Key West Tampa, and Jacksonville, where the hardest hit. Hundreds of residents fled the cities, while those who remain tried every conceivable method to combat the skirt whose origins they could not understand.

In Jacksonville, people built large fires with heart pine, believing that the pungent smell of the burning pitch would cleanse the air.

They even shot cannons packed with heavy charges in the center of town with the belief that the shock waves would break up the invisible organisms responsible for causing the fever.

Yellow Fever brought considerable destruction in Florida, and it indirectly benefited the state as well the severity of the epidemics and led legislators to take action by forming the State Board of Health to help combat the problem.

The board met for the first time in 1889 with Dr. Joseph Y. Porter of Key West as the first State Health Official. Porter and his colleagues across the state immediately set to work to establish quarantine policies for ports and working with local governments to clean up potential breeding grounds for disease.

Survivors of yellow fever actually became immune to further infection and the State Board of Health issued immunity cards to these individuals so they could travel during the epidemics without even being subject to the quarantines.

And it was today November 27, 1889, that Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, the State Health Officer, finally lifted the yellow fever quarantining Key West.

Dr. Joseph Y. Porter lived at a house on for 29 Caroline St. On June 4, 1973, his house was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.

The house was originally constructed in 1838 by Judge James Webb, who was the first federal judge in the Southern District of the Florida territory.

The house at 429 Caroline Street is best known the lifelong home of Dr. Joseph Yeates Porter Jr. His father bought the property in 1845 and Porter lived in the home for 80 years, dying in the same room he was born in.

He was Key West first native born physician and Florida's first public health officer from 1898-1917.

He was instrumental in controlling yellow fever, reforming sanitation and parenting practices and initiating health legislation. Porter was among the first physicians to recognize yellow fever as transmissible by mosquitoes.

And today, if you find yourself in Key West, you'll...]]>Yellow Fever, also known as the yellow plague, or the yellow jack was one of the most dangerous and dreaded disease is prevalent in Florida. During the 1800s, the diseases viral and we now know that it's spread primarily by a certain type of mosquito, but this wasn't known back then. And in the meantime, we had huge epidemics that broke out in Florida, mainly during the summer months, but especially in the cities with no good understanding of how the disease was caused or spread. Floridians often blame the infection on contact with another yellow fever patient or the presence of swampy areas called me OS. mamas, who had these fumes that were very difficult to breathe, probably similar to this Sargasso grass die offs that we see sometimes here in the Keys and the pungent smell made them think they had come in contact with something infectious.

Preventing yellow fever became an essential part of life in Florida, and entire communities were built and developed to provide a place for those who could afford it to get away from the sickly downtown areas during the summer months.

Yellow Fever even affected the social seasons as many businesses and schools just closed down during the hottest month of the year to avoid the danger as more people moved into Florida, and transportation by rail became faster and more common. Well, the yellow fever epidemics became larger and even deadlier.

A series of outbreaks emerged in cities across the state infecting thousands of workers and wrecking local commerce. Larger port cities like Key West Tampa, and Jacksonville, where the hardest hit. Hundreds of residents fled the cities, while those who remain tried every conceivable method to combat the skirt whose origins they could not understand.

In Jacksonville, people built large fires with heart pine, believing that the pungent smell of the burning pitch would cleanse the air.

They even shot cannons packed with heavy charges in the center of town with the belief that the shock waves would break up the invisible organisms responsible for causing the fever.

Yellow Fever brought considerable destruction in Florida, and it indirectly benefited the state as well the severity of the epidemics and led legislators to take action by forming the State Board of Health to help combat the problem.

The board met for the first time in 1889 with Dr. Joseph Y. Porter of Key West as the first State Health Official. Porter and his colleagues across the state immediately set to work to establish quarantine policies for ports and working with local governments to clean up potential breeding grounds for disease.

Survivors of yellow fever actually became immune to further infection and the State Board of Health issued immunity cards to these individuals so they could travel during the epidemics without even being subject to the quarantines.

And it was today November 27, 1889, that Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, the State Health Officer, finally lifted the yellow fever quarantining Key West.

Dr. Joseph Y. Porter lived at a house on for 29 Caroline St. On June 4, 1973, his house was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.

The house was originally constructed in 1838 by Judge James Webb, who was the first federal judge in the Southern District of the Florida territory.

The house at 429 Caroline Street is best known the lifelong home of Dr. Joseph Yeates Porter Jr. His father bought the property in 1845 and Porter lived in the home for 80 years, dying in the same room he was born in.

He was Key West first native born physician and Florida's first public health officer from 1898-1917.

He was instrumental in controlling yellow fever, reforming sanitation and parenting practices and initiating health legislation. Porter was among the first physicians to recognize yellow fever as transmissible by mosquitoes.

And today, if you find yourself in Key West, you'll want to stop by for 29 Caroline Street and visit The Porch and Caroline's Other Side which are in the ground floor of the historic Porter mansion.

And that's what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 Keys Media. If you want to learn all about our glorious past and what's going on currently in our beautiful Florida Keys. Go to http://43 keys.com.

Judge James Webb was its first judge, but his successor William Marvin will probably be most remembered. He was the one that authored the Law of Wreck and Salvage and later it was a provisional governor of Florida. At the close of the Civil War. In 1832, Key West reverted to a charter type city government.

It was during this time that John Whitehead's brother William surveyed this city in 1929, Southern was the Secretary of the Navy hints Southern Street and eaten was the Secretary of the Army hints eaten Street. William Duvall was the first territorial governor of florida hence we have the famous Duval street.

Wrecking could provide quick monetary rewards. One of the early Charleston settlers in Key West was Richard Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a 30 year old when he arrived in Key West and he became the only authorized auctioneer for wrecking property before the 1928 wrecking bill. Reportedly, in one year, he made around $10,000 thousand dollars and auction hearing fees alone that would be equivalent to $280,000 today.  

Two years after the aforementioned 1928 events, the Census of 1830revealed Key West population was 517; the year before 150 acres were mapped out as a town with 64 blocks these early settlers to Key West or primarily from the New England states, not from the Bahamas. Key West grew as a maritime military and County community.

Five years after Monroe County was established Key West was incorporated and became the county seat. The population at that time was less than 600 people, and the main industries by 1830 were salvaging the shipwrecks on the reef and fishing.

By 1845, Florida was granted state it was during the American Civil War, while Florida succeeded enjoying the Confederate States of America. That Key West remained in the Union hands because of the naval base. Fort Zachary Taylor, which is still standing today was constructed between 1845 and 1866, and it was an important Key West outpost during the Civil War. But as a result of the wartime population increase, Key West just continued to grow.

Monroe County's population by 1870 was 5657 and only 641 with outside of Key West. During the late 1800s, the economy of Key West was changing from ship salvaging to cigar production. Construction of the lighthouses along the reef made the waterway more navigable and contributed to the decline in the number of ships. During this time, there was a large number of refugees that had escaped from Cuba. These refugees brought over with them their skills enhance rolling cigars.

By November 26, 1890, the population of Key West had soared to nearly 18,800 residents, and it claimed to be the biggest and the richest city in the state of Florida. At the height of the cigar industry. in Key West. There was approximately 200 cigar factories producing 100 million hand rolled cigars annually.

However, manufacturing competition from Tampa and Ybor City put an end to Key West hand rolled cigar industry. By 1930 today, you can still visit one of these cigar factories, but now it's actually home to the county offices Fort Monroe County. It's the gado building. If you come to Key West You can also visit for Zachary Taylor and enjoy the beautiful area and some snorkeling and all the outdoor activities that a normal state park would have.

And that is what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key]]>Location, location, location. It's the cry of any good businessman. In 1825, the Federal wrecking act prescribed that all property record in US waters be taken to a US port of entry. It was in 1828, that Key West was designated one of these us ports of entries. POS grew from a desolate Island into a bustling city within just a few years. Eventually Congress acknowledge Simonton as the owner of the island and Key West incorporated twice, once as a city, and then as a town, Congress created the Superior Court of the Southern District with Admiralty power.

Judge James Webb was its first judge, but his successor William Marvin will probably be most remembered. He was the one that authored the Law of Wreck and Salvage and later it was a provisional governor of Florida. At the close of the Civil War. In 1832, Key West reverted to a charter type city government.

It was during this time that John Whitehead's brother William surveyed this city in 1929, Southern was the Secretary of the Navy hints Southern Street and eaten was the Secretary of the Army hints eaten Street. William Duvall was the first territorial governor of florida hence we have the famous Duval street.

Wrecking could provide quick monetary rewards. One of the early Charleston settlers in Key West was Richard Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a 30 year old when he arrived in Key West and he became the only authorized auctioneer for wrecking property before the 1928 wrecking bill. Reportedly, in one year, he made around $10,000 thousand dollars and auction hearing fees alone that would be equivalent to $280,000 today.  

Two years after the aforementioned 1928 events, the Census of 1830revealed Key West population was 517; the year before 150 acres were mapped out as a town with 64 blocks these early settlers to Key West or primarily from the New England states, not from the Bahamas. Key West grew as a maritime military and County community.

Five years after Monroe County was established Key West was incorporated and became the county seat. The population at that time was less than 600 people, and the main industries by 1830 were salvaging the shipwrecks on the reef and fishing.

By 1845, Florida was granted state it was during the American Civil War, while Florida succeeded enjoying the Confederate States of America. That Key West remained in the Union hands because of the naval base. Fort Zachary Taylor, which is still standing today was constructed between 1845 and 1866, and it was an important Key West outpost during the Civil War. But as a result of the wartime population increase, Key West just continued to grow.

Monroe County's population by 1870 was 5657 and only 641 with outside of Key West. During the late 1800s, the economy of Key West was changing from ship salvaging to cigar production. Construction of the lighthouses along the reef made the waterway more navigable and contributed to the decline in the number of ships. During this time, there was a large number of refugees that had escaped from Cuba. These refugees brought over with them their skills enhance rolling cigars.

By November 26, 1890, the population of Key West had soared to nearly 18,800 residents, and it claimed to be the biggest and the richest city in the state of Florida. At the height of the cigar industry. in Key West. There was approximately 200 cigar factories producing 100 million hand rolled cigars annually.

However, manufacturing competition from Tampa and Ybor City put an end to Key West hand rolled cigar industry. By 1930 today, you can still visit one of these cigar factories, but now it's actually home to the county offices Fort Monroe County. It's the gado building. If you come to Key West You can also visit for Zachary Taylor and enjoy the beautiful area and some snorkeling and all the outdoor activities that a normal state park would have.

And that is what happened today in Key West history.

Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 keys media. If you want to know more about our glorious past and even what's going on currently in the beautiful Florida Keys, please visit http://43keys.com.

And alligator reef, a notoriously difficult area to navigate, the young ship ran aground. The semen struggled desperately to save it, but eventually they had to give up the ship to keep it out of pirate hands, they stripped it of all salvageable material and set it on fire. The ship soon blew up, leaving only shards and flotsam at the bottom of the shallow waters. Many other vessels have been plunged into the depths by this reef, eventually leading to the establishment of the lighthouse station, the freestanding rig and its lantern cost $185,000 to build at the time an amount equal to over $3.7 million in today's dollars.

The structure required 12 inch thick iron pilings to support it. And those were drilled into 10 feet of coral by a specialized hammer that weighed literally a ton. Despite its in auspicious beginnings, the hundred and 36 foot lighthouse still stands nearly a century and a half later. at an average depth of 20 feet. The surrounding reef is ideal. For snorkelers and divers looking to explore Florida's Caribbean coast there, spiny lobsters, parrot fish, Barracuda, and abundant coral all in a jumbled graveyard of shipwrecks, and somewhere down there are the remains of the USS alligator.

On November 24, 1873, the Alligator Reef Lighthouse was opened.

The reef that runs near the Alligator Reef Lighthouse has more than 500 different species of marine life. There's a pirate ship wreck and 144 year old lighthouse and all of this sits just four nautical miles offshore from Islamorada in the beautiful Florida Keys.

And that's what happened today in Key West history. Today in Key West History is brought to you by 43 keys media. If you want to learn more about the glorious past and the future of our beautiful Florida Keys, please visit http://43 keys.com.

During the final hour, McCoy was escorted into Havana Harbor by a pair of Russian-built Cuban gunboats. Afterwards, the Cuban government hosted a welcoming party. 

"I thanked everyone and invited them to come to Key West to visit us," said McCoy. "The following year 125,000 Cuban landed in Key West during the Mariel boatlift. 

"I guess they were looking for me," he quipped.

Then later on, we noticed that on October 12, 1956,the Florida Supreme Court hands down a decision, the decision they handed down was dealing with the Key West city commissioners election race, Charles Parra had run a campaign against jack see Delaney. And at the end of the election when all of the votes were counted, the key was city commission acting as the canvassing board declined to declare a winner in the race. So the election happened. Lots of things went on. And in the end, no winner could be declared. So this brought about a legal battle initiated by Charles Parra and he was asking the Florida Supreme Court to declare him the winner in the elections on the voting machines, 2302 votes or registered for Delaney, 2234 votes were registered for Parra, the controversy arose from the manner in which 256 absentee ballots were cast. It's like we have Groundhog Day all over again, with what's going on. With our current Florida elections. And the recounts and the battles that are going on, we're still dealing with these same issues. So the controversy arose on those 256 absentee ballots in the manner in which they were cast. So let me tell you what some of the legal judgment rendered by the Supreme Court actually says about the craziness that went on with this election. So on 247 of the 256 absentee ballots, a clear choice was able to be determined and of those 49 were marked for Delaney and 198 of those absentee ballots were voting for Parra. So if all the absentee ballots were rejected, then Delaney would win the election. If all of the absentee ballots counted, then Parra would win the election. The shenanigans with the absentee ballots were what put them all in question. So let me tell you the details. 96 of the absentee ballots were invalid because I'm quoting here, they were not returned to the office of the supervisor of registration ie, "the clerk" by the elector or by mail, but work returned by other persons including Parra so the candidate is taking ballots to the supervisor of the registration, the clerk.

The 96 ballots were commingled with the remainder of the 247 absentee ballots, which further complicated the situation because 154 of the ballots were declared by the Supreme Court to be illegal, because the ones who cast them swore they expected to be absent from the city instead of the county as the law provides. So those ballots were mixed in with the other absentee ballots, and the Supreme Court said, Nope, they're illegal. Furthermore, the ballots were declared defective for various reasons. Now, let's listen to the reasons some of these ballots were declared. And this is right out of the Supreme Court rendering the ballots were declared effective, because the date on the application for them didn't appear on some the notary had not completed this field. And on some, there was a signature of one witness, but no signature at all. And to cap it off, the Supreme Court found that the names and addresses of persons applying for absentee ballots during the week immediately prior to the election had not...]]>On Tuesday, February 10, 1942 on the front page of the Key West citizen, there's a small article talking about the local labor union.Now the labor union in question was the local Mason and bricklayers union. There was some elections that were being held for new officers for the labor union. There was also some movement going on where the black labor union was being absorbed into the regular labor union. And they were fighting it because they wanted their own representation. It was just a boiling mess of a meeting. And in that meeting as they were electing new officers, Charles Parra who was the current financial secretary of the bricklayers and masons union was brought up for reelection, and he was so opposed that his name was shouted down at the elections. And another man named Charles Greenwood took over that position. Again, you had multiple factions within that labor union fighting for control.

Then later on, we noticed that on October 12, 1956,the Florida Supreme Court hands down a decision, the decision they handed down was dealing with the Key West city commissioners election race, Charles Parra had run a campaign against jack see Delaney. And at the end of the election when all of the votes were counted, the key was city commission acting as the canvassing board declined to declare a winner in the race. So the election happened. Lots of things went on. And in the end, no winner could be declared. So this brought about a legal battle initiated by Charles Parra and he was asking the Florida Supreme Court to declare him the winner in the elections on the voting machines, 2302 votes or registered for Delaney, 2234 votes were registered for Parra, the controversy arose from the manner in which 256 absentee ballots were cast. It's like we have Groundhog Day all over again, with what's going on. With our current Florida elections. And the recounts and the battles that are going on, we're still dealing with these same issues. So the controversy arose on those 256 absentee ballots in the manner in which they were cast. So let me tell you what some of the legal judgment rendered by the Supreme Court actually says about the craziness that went on with this election. So on 247 of the 256 absentee ballots, a clear choice was able to be determined and of those 49 were marked for Delaney and 198 of those absentee ballots were voting for Parra. So if all the absentee ballots were rejected, then Delaney would win the election. If all of the absentee ballots counted, then Parra would win the election. The shenanigans with the absentee ballots were what put them all in question. So let me tell you the details. 96 of the absentee ballots were invalid because I'm quoting here, they were not returned to the office of the supervisor of registration ie, "the clerk" by the elector or by mail, but work returned by other persons including Parra so the candidate is taking ballots to the supervisor of the registration, the clerk.

The 96 ballots were commingled with the remainder of the 247 absentee ballots, which further complicated the situation because 154 of the ballots were declared by the Supreme Court to be illegal, because the ones who cast them swore they expected to be absent from the city instead of the county as the law provides. So those ballots were mixed in with the other absentee ballots, and the Supreme Court said, Nope, they're illegal. Furthermore, the ballots were declared defective for various reasons. Now, let's listen to the reasons some of these ballots were declared. And this is right out of the Supreme Court rendering the ballots were declared effective, because the date on the application for them didn't appear on some the notary had not completed this field. And on some, there was a signature of one witness, but no signature at all. And to cap it off, the Supreme Court found that the names and addresses of persons applying for absentee ballots during the week immediately prior to the election had not been posted or published as required by law.

So as a consequence, Delaney who received a majority of the votes personally registered on the machine was declared entitled to the office of the Key West city commission. But there was a sufficient number of challenge ballots to change the result of the election. You've got missing signatures, you've got missing dates, you've got missing witnesses on some of the applications, there was no witness signed. Well, other applications had the same person signing as the witness for multiple ones. So there were a lot of irregularities going on in the and let me read you what basically happened the Court announced that voting was permissible only when the statute providing for a specified that the ballot should not be deposited in the ballot box nor the voters name entered on the polis nor the voter counted until the ballot had first been made out by the voter himself upon a legal form of valid So in other words, it's establish when they have to vote in person and when they have to vote in absentee.

But here's what it says. And this is important, the court recognize the rule that the right to vote is one the voter should personally exercise and that absentee voting quote here being an exception to the general rule cannot be authorized. So in other words, if you're trying to make a decision not to disenfranchise voters, those people that voted in person at the ballot booth get priority of the people that voted absentee ballots because the guaranteed right and authorization does not carry with the absentee ballots. This decision was eventually handed down. And essentially, all of the defective absentee ballots were thrown out. Since the illegal absentee ballots were enough to alter the election. The winner of the election should be determined by the registered votes on the machines. So the Supreme Court upheld that jack Delaney was now a city Commissioner, and it was today in Key West history.

On November 19, 1957, just one year later that Charles Parra finally won a seat on this Key West city commission in a runoff election, I guess all's well that ends well and I'm sure we'll see the name Charles power pop up again in Key West history today in Key West history has been brought to you by 43 keys media to learn more about all the crazy events that have happened in Key West and what's currently going on in our beautiful Florida Keys, visit http://43keys.com.

The thing about the Key West lighthouse though is because it is on land and accessible on land, it allowed the keepers of the Key West lighthouse to mingle right along with the rest of the Key Westers, so it was a very highly prized place to live, if you are a lighthouse keeper. The first Key West lighthouse was a 65 foot brick tower, and it had 15 whale oil lamps that had big 15 inch reflectors, and they would burn the whale oil and keep people away from the land and from hopefully not getting caught on the reef whenever they were sailing by.

Now in 1846, the Great Havana Hurricane destroyed the Key West lighthouse and the Sand Key Lighthouse. And as a temporary fix a ship with a beacon was parked around Sand Key, and a temporary beacon in Key West was placed a top a 30 foot tall tripod! Isn't that crazy? So it took some lobbying to Congress to get funds allocated to rebuild the Key West lighthouse. But they allocated $12,000, and in a matter of just a few years, the Key West lighthouse was rebuilt, and it was given a new lens. It was 39 inches in diameter, 62 inches tall, and it was just a much bigger, brighter light. The lanterns that used to burn whale oil were converted to electricity in the early 1900's.

The first keepers of the lighthouse were Michael and Barbara Mabrity. And it's funny because these keepers of the lighthouse, some of them had rapid succession because there was a yellow fever outbreak. And so several of them died or were only keepers for just a very short amount of time.

So I will tell you, there's one story that I had read about when the Civil War broke out, and Florida sided with the Confederacy. But Key West on its own, decided to remain with the Union. So the Key Westers were divided over this decision, so that Truman Avenue back in the day was known as Division Street. And that's essentially where people that sided from the north on one side, and people that sided with the South were on the other. So it appears that Mrs. Maybrity and again she was one of the first keepers she ran her tongue the little bit more to the Confederate side, than she did to the union side. So in 1864, at age 82, she was dismissed as the keeper of the Key West Lighthouse for her disloyalty to the Union. So then it fell on to her granddaughter, who was appointed - actually the granddaughters husband John Carroll was appointed as the assistant keeper in 1870. He died of typhoid fever in 1889. So he had a nice, 19 year stint as the keeper.

And that's whenever Mary was promoted to the keeper position. And she only held it a few weeks before she also died of the typhoid fever. So there was a little bit of passing around of the lighthouse position, and ultimately the daughter of Mary married William A Bethel and he replaced Mary as the keeper of the lighthouse. And he served in that capacity from 1889 and to 1908. And then his wife was then promoted to the head keeper. But the interesting thing is finally, in 1969, whenever the Key West Lighthouse was officially decommissioned and no longer functioning as an active lighthouse. I'm assuming that she might have been one of the only children or families survivors of these original Key West keepers that actually...]]>Let's take a look at what happened today in Key West history. November the seventh 1983, a lady by the name of Jennie Bethel DeBoer - she died at the age of 97 in Key West. Now, she was one of the children of one of the last keepers of the Key West lighthouse. She grew up at the lighthouse. Her father, William A. Bethel was the keeper of the lighthouse for 25 years, he was one of the longer serving keepers of the Key West lighthouse. And during World War One, Jennie served as a Yeoman it in the Navy and then after the war, she spent 35 years working for the Key West citizen. The key was lighthouse was an interesting place, it dates back to 1825, it was one of four light houses that were originally constructed along the Florida Keys.

The thing about the Key West lighthouse though is because it is on land and accessible on land, it allowed the keepers of the Key West lighthouse to mingle right along with the rest of the Key Westers, so it was a very highly prized place to live, if you are a lighthouse keeper. The first Key West lighthouse was a 65 foot brick tower, and it had 15 whale oil lamps that had big 15 inch reflectors, and they would burn the whale oil and keep people away from the land and from hopefully not getting caught on the reef whenever they were sailing by.

Now in 1846, the Great Havana Hurricane destroyed the Key West lighthouse and the Sand Key Lighthouse. And as a temporary fix a ship with a beacon was parked around Sand Key, and a temporary beacon in Key West was placed a top a 30 foot tall tripod! Isn't that crazy? So it took some lobbying to Congress to get funds allocated to rebuild the Key West lighthouse. But they allocated $12,000, and in a matter of just a few years, the Key West lighthouse was rebuilt, and it was given a new lens. It was 39 inches in diameter, 62 inches tall, and it was just a much bigger, brighter light. The lanterns that used to burn whale oil were converted to electricity in the early 1900's.

The first keepers of the lighthouse were Michael and Barbara Mabrity. And it's funny because these keepers of the lighthouse, some of them had rapid succession because there was a yellow fever outbreak. And so several of them died or were only keepers for just a very short amount of time.

So I will tell you, there's one story that I had read about when the Civil War broke out, and Florida sided with the Confederacy. But Key West on its own, decided to remain with the Union. So the Key Westers were divided over this decision, so that Truman Avenue back in the day was known as Division Street. And that's essentially where people that sided from the north on one side, and people that sided with the South were on the other. So it appears that Mrs. Maybrity and again she was one of the first keepers she ran her tongue the little bit more to the Confederate side, than she did to the union side. So in 1864, at age 82, she was dismissed as the keeper of the Key West Lighthouse for her disloyalty to the Union. So then it fell on to her granddaughter, who was appointed - actually the granddaughters husband John Carroll was appointed as the assistant keeper in 1870. He died of typhoid fever in 1889. So he had a nice, 19 year stint as the keeper.

And that's whenever Mary was promoted to the keeper position. And she only held it a few weeks before she also died of the typhoid fever. So there was a little bit of passing around of the lighthouse position, and ultimately the daughter of Mary married William A Bethel and he replaced Mary as the keeper of the lighthouse. And he served in that capacity from 1889 and to 1908. And then his wife was then promoted to the head keeper. But the interesting thing is finally, in 1969, whenever the Key West Lighthouse was officially decommissioned and no longer functioning as an active lighthouse. I'm assuming that she might have been one of the only children or families survivors of these original Key West keepers that actually live on the lighthouse grounds and grew up there.

So in December of 1969, when she was 83 years old Jenny Bethel DeBoer, the daughter of William Bethel and Mary Bethel would officially turn off the light at the Key West Lighthouse for the last time. So it was on this day, November 7th in 1983, at the age of 97 years old, that Jenny Bethel DeBoer passed away and that marks the end of an era of the lighthouse keepers.

Now, if you'll remember correctly, the Truman Little White House was originally built as officers quarters for the submarine base on the Naval Air Station here in Key West. And it was much later that it was actually converted into a single family home, which is where Truman and all of his entourage always stayed when they came to Key West. Now, Truman began coming to Key West in 1946, and began establishing a pattern of coming every November and December. And then he would come again in February and March. So today, November 7th, in Key West history, Harry Truman arrived for his fifth visit to the Truman White House, the little white house, I should say. It was the Key West place where he felt that he could relax. It was just after he won re-election to the presidency. He had a hard fought campaign and he needed some rest and relaxation. And after he first came to Key West in 1946, he vowed that he would get back as often as he could when he needed rest. So he came and he had a entourage with him. He stayed at the Truman Little White House, and that this morning in 1948, November 8, 1948,

He got up about 7:30 and had breakfast and then he went out onto the South Porch to read the morning newspaper. And he did that for a little while. And about 9:50 in the morning, according to the Presidential logs, he left the Little White House and he went down to visit some places in Key West so he went to the enlisted mens beach at the Naval Air Station. And it's funny because if you read in the Presidential logs, and I'll just read this on this particular visit to Key West, there were three automobiles that were sent down to Key West specifically for the visit of President Truman. One was a Lincoln convertible and two of them or Lincoln sedans, and they had been sent to Key West from Jacksonville, Florida, by the Ford Motor Company. And they were to be used for the presidential party while they were in Key West. And then any supplemental type of transportation would then be provided by the Naval Air Base. So they rode around in the convertibles and did whatever they needed to do with those vehicles provided by Ford - because they were Lincoln's. Now, in the early morning hours of the eighth of November, Truman and all his entourage went to the enlisted mens beach down at the Naval Air Station, and all of the army type equipment and all of the you know, type of clutter that would normally have been there would have been moved away so that they could have a very attractive view for their beach visit.

So the weather was ideal. It was bright and sunny, approximately 80 degrees is what we see the recorded temperature the party quickly got into their bathing trunks. I don't know how long they were, but they were trunks and they spent the next two hours loafing around in the sun some exercise by tossing softballs and footballs. And the President and several other people were also swimming and taking a dip in the surf. Now, you know, there's not a lot of surf here. So I'm sure they were just kind of chilling out in the water. And it was pretty much what they did every morning whenever they were here on the beach. And so they left about just before lunchtime, about 11:40 and went back to the President's quarters at Truman's Little White House and had lunch and then after that, they walked down to the Naval Station. The funny thing is that while he was walking down around the Naval Air Station, he walked in unannounced to the press headquarters at one of the buildings and he walked in on a bunch of newspaper men that were watching a pool game between several of the photographers. So the President just explained they didn't have any news. He wasn't there to give any breaking news because he needed anything but he just wanted to see if they were comfortably accommodated. So...]]>Today in Key West history, we're talking about the focal point of one of Harry Truman's visits to Key West and it was the Truman Little White House.

Now, if you'll remember correctly, the Truman Little White House was originally built as officers quarters for the submarine base on the Naval Air Station here in Key West. And it was much later that it was actually converted into a single family home, which is where Truman and all of his entourage always stayed when they came to Key West. Now, Truman began coming to Key West in 1946, and began establishing a pattern of coming every November and December. And then he would come again in February and March. So today, November 7th, in Key West history, Harry Truman arrived for his fifth visit to the Truman White House, the little white house, I should say. It was the Key West place where he felt that he could relax. It was just after he won re-election to the presidency. He had a hard fought campaign and he needed some rest and relaxation. And after he first came to Key West in 1946, he vowed that he would get back as often as he could when he needed rest. So he came and he had a entourage with him. He stayed at the Truman Little White House, and that this morning in 1948, November 8, 1948,

He got up about 7:30 and had breakfast and then he went out onto the South Porch to read the morning newspaper. And he did that for a little while. And about 9:50 in the morning, according to the Presidential logs, he left the Little White House and he went down to visit some places in Key West so he went to the enlisted mens beach at the Naval Air Station. And it's funny because if you read in the Presidential logs, and I'll just read this on this particular visit to Key West, there were three automobiles that were sent down to Key West specifically for the visit of President Truman. One was a Lincoln convertible and two of them or Lincoln sedans, and they had been sent to Key West from Jacksonville, Florida, by the Ford Motor Company. And they were to be used for the presidential party while they were in Key West. And then any supplemental type of transportation would then be provided by the Naval Air Base. So they rode around in the convertibles and did whatever they needed to do with those vehicles provided by Ford - because they were Lincoln's. Now, in the early morning hours of the eighth of November, Truman and all his entourage went to the enlisted mens beach down at the Naval Air Station, and all of the army type equipment and all of the you know, type of clutter that would normally have been there would have been moved away so that they could have a very attractive view for their beach visit.

So the weather was ideal. It was bright and sunny, approximately 80 degrees is what we see the recorded temperature the party quickly got into their bathing trunks. I don't know how long they were, but they were trunks and they spent the next two hours loafing around in the sun some exercise by tossing softballs and footballs. And the President and several other people were also swimming and taking a dip in the surf. Now, you know, there's not a lot of surf here. So I'm sure they were just kind of chilling out in the water. And it was pretty much what they did every morning whenever they were here on the beach. And so they left about just before lunchtime, about 11:40 and went back to the President's quarters at Truman's Little White House and had lunch and then after that, they walked down to the Naval Station. The funny thing is that while he was walking down around the Naval Air Station, he walked in unannounced to the press headquarters at one of the buildings and he walked in on a bunch of newspaper men that were watching a pool game between several of the photographers. So the President just explained they didn't have any news. He wasn't there to give any breaking news because he needed anything but he just wanted to see if they were comfortably accommodated. So that was a nice little surprise visit from the President for those working people who were actually kind of loathing. Also, it's very interesting to know this was Truman's fifth visit to Key West it's also the visit that his wife and daughter first made their first visit to Key West on this trip. He was making by this date in 1951 which is just three years later that marked his 10th visit.

So, as you can see it was one of Truman's favorite places to vacation. On this particular day, he had the afternoon free to do his milling around and visiting around Key West around the Naval Station and in the evening hours he had his dinner served about seven o'clock and he retired to a suite for the remainder of the evening and the motion picture Southern Yankee, featuring Red Skelton was what was shown at the base. So that's what happened today in Key West history November 8, 1948.