Historical Chronology for

Key West and the Florida Keys

Courtesy of Brooks White

48,000-100,000 BC - Historians and geologists differ about the age of the Florida Keys. The Keys emerged from coral, limestone and oolite. Some geologists suggest that most of the Keys have been above and below water four times since the Pleistocene era. [Q]

1513, Easter Sunday - Ponce de Le¢n maps the island of Key West. [D]

1513 - Ponce de Leon stopped at Dry Tortugas to capture green sea turtles for provisions. [N]

1545 - A large number of Spanish merchant ships were lost in the vicinity of Key Largo. [G]

1550 - Nao (type of vessel) Visitacion, 200 tons, Captain Pedro de la Torre, sailing alone from Vera Cruz for Spain, was wrecked on the Florida Keys. [G]

1577 - Two ships wrecked off Los Martires (Key Largo area) in the Florida Keys. Indians killed all survivors except for two, whom the caciques held captive. [G]

1579 - An unidentified Spanish ship (nao) returning to Spain from Havana was lost near Key Largo. [G]

1618, March 24 - A merchant ship, coming from Campaeche, sank off the Keys with a cargo of hides and indigo. According to the Governor of Florida on 5/24/1618, all of the crew escaped to shore. [G]

1621 - A small patache (usually about 30-50 foot), on voyage from Vera Cruz to Spain, capsized about three leagues off the Dry Tortugas and sank. Thirty people drown, others escaped. and were rescued with the mail bags by a passing Spanish ship which they signaled by use of fires. [G]

1622, August 6 - A fierce hurricane struck a large convoy of Spanish ships headed from Havana to Spain. Of at least nine ships wrecked in the Keys, three were treasure-laden Galleons: Nuestra Se¤ora de Atocha, Captain Jacome de Veider, 600 tons; La Margarita, Captain Pedro Guerrero de Espinosa, 600 tons; and Nuestra Se¤ora del Rosario, Captain Francisco Rodriquez Rico, 600 tons, wrecked on Dry Tortugas. The Rosario was fully salvaged at the time. A second hurricane in September 1622 destroyed all record of the Atocha, and the Margarita was only partially salvaged. Search parties continued for another 75 years. Both the latter shipwrecks were later salvaged by Mel Fisher and Treasure Salvors Inc., in the 1980's, off the Marquesas Keys. [G,J]

1630 - Two galleons were wrecked off the Florida Keys. All hands were saved, and 56 bronze cannons were recovered. [G]

1632, April 2 - As a large convoy of ships traveling from Havana to Spain passed Key Largo, two ships were wrecked. One was Almiranta de Honduras, the other not identified, but carried a cargo of cocoa. [G]

1665, February 15 - The Spanish merchant ship Santa Anna Maria wrecked off Key Largo. [G]

1677, May 4 - The Governor of Cuba sent Don Martin de Melgar with a frigate to salvage cannon from a Dutch ship which had wrecked at Key West. [G]

1688 - A merchant nao was lost in the Florida Keys. [G]

1689 - Frigate, Nuestra Se¤ora de Concepci¢n y San Josefe was lost at Key Largo. [G]

1733, July 14 - After setting sail from Habana the previous day, the Nueva Espa¤a fleet of about 22 vessels encountered a hurricane off the Florida Keys. The Capitana Galleon, El Rubi, was lost off Key Largo, with substantial gold and silver cargo. The Altiranta, Nuestra Se¤ora de Balvaneda, was also lost with 60 cannon and substantial precious cargo. The fleet was commanded by Don Rodrigo de Torres. Within three months after the disaster, the Spanish had salvaged most of the treasure. [G]

1742 - British man-of-war HMS Tyger was lost on the Florida Keys. Survivors were attacked by Spanish Admiral Torres, with the intention of taking them prisoner. The English beat them off. [G]

1744, February 5 - British man-of-war HMS Looe, of 44 guns, Captain Uting, along with a Spanish ship she had just captured, wrecked on "la Pareda", now named Looe Key in the Lower Keys. All hands were saved, from both vessels. [G]

1748 - British ship Dolphin, Captain Bagat, wrecked near Cape Florida shortly after being captured by the Spaniards. [G]

1748 - British Warship, HMS Fowey, 20 guns, Captain Francis William Drake wrecked near what is now known as Fowey Rocks. A Spanish merchant ship, Judith, also wrecked. All hands and precious cargo were saved. [G]

1748, late in year - A Boston merchant vessel, Howlet, wrecked near Cape Florida. All the crew were made prisoners by the Indians and all put to death except a black slave, who later escaped. [G]

1763 - Spain trades all of Florida to the British for the port of Havana, previously taken by the British in 1762. [H]

1763 - British merchantman, Alexander, sailing from Jamaica to London, lost in the western Florida Keys. [G]

1765, February 27 - British ship, Grenville Packet, Captain Curlett, with mail, wrecked on Dry Tortugas. Nothing was saved except the people, seven gallons of water and a few biscuits. [G]

1766 - British ship, General Conway, Captain Bail, from Jamaica, lost in the Florida Keys. All hands were saved. [G]

1767, July 28 - The ship Jason was badly damaged during a storm off the Florida Keys and wrecked on the coast of Apalachi. [G]

1768, January 22 - Spanish ship, San Antonio, Captain Font from Havana, was lost on a reef near Key West. Crew and passengers, after surviving 22 days on the reef, were rescued by a turtling sloop. Today (1990) the wreckage lies in 120' of water near the entrance to the Key West main ship channel. [G,J]

1768, July 30 - British paquetboat, Anna Theresa, wrecked and burned on the Florida Keys. [G]

1769, September 29 - British merchant snow, Ledbury, Captain John Lorain, was driven ashore on a Key near Key Largo, which was then named Ledbury Key. [G]

1770 - A large Spanish ship sailing from Caracas to Cadiz, wrecked in the Florida Keys during a violent gale. Both ship and cargo were lost. [G]

1771 - Spanish merchant nao, El Nauva Victoriosa, sank near Key Largo. Only the crew was saved. [G]

1774 - British ship, Rhee Galley, Captain Hunter, sailing from Honduras to Bristol, was lost in the Florida Keys. [G]

1775 - About four hundred Frenchmen were reported cannibalized by Colosas Indians near Matacumbe Key. Note that Matacumbe cay may not be the same as the modern Matacumbe Keys; the modern Marquesas Keys were also called by the same name. [G,J]

1783 - The British, having lost the civil war to the colonies, return Florida to the Spanish to prevent control by the new United States. [H]

1788 - British merchantman, Evenly, Captain Hebden, sailing from Honduras to London, wrecked on the Florida Keys. [G]

1789 - British ship, Fly, Captain Walker, sailing from Jamaica to Africa, was lost on the Florida Keys. [G]

1791 - British merchant brig, Lively, Captain Morse, sailing Jamaica for Bristol, lost in the Keys. Most cargo saved. [G]

1792 - American merchantman, Lovely Ann, Captain Green, sailing Jamaica to New York, wrecked in the Keys. [G]

1793, early - British merchantman, General Clark, Captain Lilburn, sailing Jamaica to Savannah, was totally lost on the Florida Keys, but the crew was saved. [G]

1794, August 8 - British merchantman, Catherine Green, Captain Rose, sailing Jamaica to London, wrecked on a reef in the Keys. Most cargo was saved. [G]

1795 - American merchantman, Noah's Ark, sailing New Orleans to Philadelphia, lost in the Keys. [G]

1796 - British naval transport, Maria, Captain Giltchrist, sailing from Jamaica, lost on Ludberry reef. [G]

1796, August 28 - British merchantman, Speedwell, Captain Brownlow, sailing Honduras to Charleston, lost on Carysfort Reef. Crew and ship's materials were saved. [G]

1798 - British ship, Flora, Captain Scott, sailing Charleston to Havana, lost in the Keys. [G]

1800 - Capt. Anthony Pent and his father William, both born on Key Vaca (Marathon) report that their ancestors settled the area about 1800. [Q]

1800 - The ship, Hector, sailing from Havana to Nassau, wrecked on a reef in the Florida Keys. [G]

1803 - British merchantman Britannia, Captain Wright, sailing from Jamaica to London, was lost on the Florida Keys. [G]

1804 - American merchantman Calliope, Captain Nash, sailing from Jamaica to Virginia, was lost on the reef. [G]

1805 - British merchantman Rattler, Captain Balmond, sailing from Honduras to London, was totally lost on Carysfort Reef. [G]

1805, March 3 - British warship HMS Fly, Captain Powoll Bast Pellew, wrecked on Carysfort Reef. 121 men of the crew were saved. [G]

1805, September 17 - Ship Providence, Captain Gibson, sailing from New Orleans to Bordeaux, wrecked in the Florida Keys. [G]

1805, December 6 - Ship Andromache, Captain Hickles, sailing Jamaica to New York, wrecked in the Florida Keys. [G]

1806 - Ship Maria, Captain Rundle, sailing Jamaica to Halifax, wrecked on Dry Tortugas. [G]

1811, October 26 - British merchantman Cabinet, Captain Montgomery, sailing from New Orleans to Liverpool, wrecked on a reef of the Florida Keys. [G]

1812, February 20 - American merchantman Orion, Captain Brown, sailing from Aux Cayes to Philadelphia, was lost on the reef. [G]

1812, June 16 - American ship Juno, Captain Pratt, sailing from New Orleans to Boston, lost on Carysfort Reef. [G]

1812, July 15 - British merchantman Highlander, Captain Cuthbert, sailing from Jamaica to London, wrecked on Carysfort Reef. The crew was picked up by the ship Hopewell. [G]

1815 - Island of Key West given to Juan Pablo Salas by the Spanish Government. [D]

1816 - British merchantman Magdalen, Captain Sawyer, sailing New Orleans to Liverpool, wrecked on the reef. [G]

1816 - Ship Sir John Sherbroke, Captain Cowan, sailing from Jamaica to New York with a cargo of $60,000 in specie, struck a reef off Dry Tortugas and broke up. The crew was saved, and they made off with the specie. [G]

1816, August 30 - American ship Three Sisters, Captain Arnington of New York, bound for New Orleans, wrecked on Carysfort Reef. The crew was saved. [G]

1817, May - Ship Europa, Captain Rich, sailing from St. Jago de Cuba for America, wrecked on the reef. [G]

1817, May 5 - Portuguese ship Marquis de Pombal, sailing form Pernambuco to Oporto, was captured in March by the Patriola, an insurgent privateer. She was run aground on this date on a reef in the Florida Keys. [G]

1817, June 15 - American merchantman Despatch, Captain Field, sailing from Havana to Charlestown, wrecked on Carysfort Reef. [G]

1818 - American fishermen constructed a settlement on Key Vaca (Marathon). [N]

1818 - Two ships were wrecked on the Florida Keys: the American brig Caressa Ann, Captain Tufts, sailing New Orleans to Gibraltar; and the British brig Shannon, Captain Kendall, of London sailing from Port Antonio, Jamaica to London. Both were refloated by wreckers and taken to Nassau. [G]

1818 - Ship Eliza, Captain Murphey, sailing Jamaica to Philadelphia, was lost on Carysfort reef. [G]

1818 - American merchantman Betsey, Captain Grafton, sailing Havana to Rhode Island, lost on the reef. [G]

1818, August 7 - British merchantman Quebec, Captain Fiott, sailing Jamaica to London, totally lost on the reef. Only the crew was saved. [G]

1818, August 10 - British merchantman Solway, Captain Bennett, sailing Jamaica to Withsharon, wrecked on the reef. 18 different wrecking vessels recovered most of her cargo. [G]

1818, December 5 - British merchantman Acasta, Captain Parkin, sailing Jamaica to Liverpool, wrecked on Dry Tortugas. [G]

1819 - American small fishing sloops voyaged to the Keys. [N]

1819 - Under the terms of the Adams-On¡s treaty, Spain agrees to cede Florida to the United States, with the US agreeing to pay up to $5 million in damage claims by American citizens in Florida lodged against Spain. The United States took formal possession in 1821. [H]

1819 - British Merchantman Sandwich, Captain Fraser, sailing Havana to Guernsey, wrecked in the Florida Keys. [G]

1819, May 21 - French ship Modeste, Captain D'Barron, wrecked at Key Largo. [G]

1819, June 29 - Ship Anie of Scarbro, Captain Stanley, enroute to England, lost on the reef. Only five of the crew were saved. [G]

1820's - Key West's first non-indian inhabitants are seamen from New England and the Bahamas. Economy is fishing and salvage. [D]

1821 - The United States takes formal possession of Florida from Spain. [K]

1821 - Territorial Governor Andrew Jackson divides Florida into two Counties: Escambia, west of the Suwannee River; and St. Johns, east and south. [H]

1821, January 25 - American ship, Hope for Peace, Captain Baker, sailing from New Orleans for Charleston, was dismasted and overset in the Gulf Stream. The ship then drifted and wrecked, but all the crew were saved. [G]

1821, January 26 - Ship Supply, Captain Fisher, was lost during a heavy gale. [G]

1821, February - A ship was seen wrecked and totally dismasted on the Carysfort reef. [G]

1821, September 14 - Ship Cosmopolite, Captain Selliman wrecked during a gale on the Keys. [G]

1821, December 20 - New Jersey trader John W. Simonton purchases Key West from Juan Salas in a Havana bar for $2,000. [P]

1822 - US Government declares Key West as an official port of entry. [E]

1822 - Florida's territorial government established. [D]

1822 - Key West named as a corruption of the Spanish "Cayo Hueso" (translates to "Bone Key" in English). [C]

1822, January 14 - British merchantman Frances & Lucy, Captain Barnaby, sailing Jamaica to Halifax, lost on the reef. [G]

1822, January 19+ - John Whitehead, John W. C. Fleming and Padron C. Greene each sold ¬ interest in the City of Key West from John Simonton, thus recouping his investment. [P]

1822, March 25 - Matthew G. Perry, Commanding Officer of the US Schooner Shark, takes possession of the Island of Key West, two months after the purchase of the island by John Simonton, from Juan Salas. [U]

1822, late April - British merchantman, Ann of London, Captain Campbell, sailing Havana to Buenos Aires, was lost on the east Florida Keys; only part of the cargo was saved. Lord only knows why the Captain chose to head north for a southern destination! [G,J]

1822, late April - A French brig, laden with indigo, logwood and mahogany, coming from Honduras, wrecked on the East end of the Florida Keys. [G]

1822, April 25 - A full-rigged brig was reported wrecked on Carysfort reef. Two other brigs were also aground on Ledbury Reef, with six or seven wreckers abound the two wrecks. [G]

1822, May 19 - A ship with plain yellow sides was reported wrecked on Carysfort Reef. [G]

1822, June 27 - A large vessel was seen wrecked on a reef on the Keys, with six wreckers working. [G]

1823 - American sloop Leopard, sailing from St. Augustine to Havana, was lost in the Florida Keys. The crew was saved and taken to Havana. [G]

1823 - American merchantman Franklin, sailing Philadelphia for Pensacola, wrecked in the Keys. [G]

1823 - The US Government dispatches Commodore David Porter to the Keys to rid the coastline of pirates like Black Caesar, Blackbeard (Edward Teach) and Jean LaFitte. [H]

1823, July 3 - Monroe County is created out of St. Johns County. The County was named for President James Monroe, was the 6th Florida county, and included all the present boundaries of Lee, Collier, Hendry, Dade and Broward; and parts of Palm Beach, Charlotte and Glades. Basically, this is everything south of Lake Okeechobee. The unincorporated settlement of Key West was selected as the County Seat. [H]

1823, November 18 - Ship Andromache, sailing Jamaica for New York, wrecked on the reef. [G]

1824 - The ship Swift, Captain Miller, coming from Havana, wrecked at night on Long Island. Key West wreckers salvaged 900 boxes of sugar, and all the indigo and cochineal she had aboard. [G]

1824 - Ship Ceres, coming from New Orleans, was wrecked on Dry Tortugas. Crew was saved and carried to Havana. [G]

1824, early - The sloop Theodore, reported that a British brig was seen wrecked on the reef. The wrecked ship was bound from Honduras to England. The Theodore was driven away from the wreck by American wreckers. [G]

1824, February 24 - British merchantman George III, Captain Danning, sailing Honduras to Dublin, lost on Carysfort reef. [G]

1824, March 14 - A hermaphrodite brig, painted black with a white streak, was seen wrecked on a reef. [G]

1824, August 5 - A large bright-sided American brig, deeply laden, was seen wrecked on the southeast end of Carysfort. [G]

1825 - Ship Johan Carl or Carl John, sailing Havana to the Mediterranean, was lost in the Keys. [G]

1825, February 7 - French merchantman Pointe-a-Petre, sailing New Orleans to Bordeaux, lost on the reef. Crew saved. [G]

1828 - Census shows 421 inhabitants in Key West, 100 were fishermen. At least 30 small sloops were used in the fishing industry. [N]

1828, January 8 - The City of Key West is incorporated. [J]

1829 - The large American vessel Mississippi struck on Looe Key Reef at almost the exact spot that the famous British frigate Looe was lost on February 5, 1744. [G]

1829 - The younger brother of City founder John, William A. Whitehead platted the city of Key West, with most lots laid out in 46x90 foot size. [P]

1829, April - Spanish brig Correo No. 1, Captain Qureau, wrecked on Carysfort reef. 45 crew saved, and a cargo of precious gold and silver was completely salvaged. [G]

1830 - Richard Fitzpatrick of South Carolina leases 100 acres for purpose of making salt on southeastern end of Key West island. [T]

1831 - American ship Amulet, Captain Windsor, sailing from Boston to New Orleans with a cargo of dry goods, wrecked in the Florida Keys and was totally lost. [G]

1831 - Revenues for the fishing industry in the Florida Keys are estimated to exceed $100,000. [N]

1831 - American schooner Waverly, Captain Sellers, of and heading from New York, last from Key West, wrecked on a reef in the Keys near Cape Florida light vessel and was totally lost, but the crew and cargo were saved. [G]

1831, March - The Key West Gazette advertises a "Segar Manufactory" which

produced cigars from the "very best tobacco of Havana." Owner William H. Wall. This first cigar factory sold to a local market only. [D]

1831, March 7 - The county's first Church, Episcopal, was established in Key West. [C]

1831 - Richard Fitzpatrick defeats Col. Lockland M. Stone for representative to the territorial council. [A]

1832 - Captain Francis Watlington, a wrecker, moves the "oldest house" from Whitehead Street in Key West to its present location at 322 Duval Street. [J]

1832, May 4 - John James Audubon arrives in Key West. [U]

1834 - Key West's first fire department is formed, called the Lafayette Fire Company. [E]

1835 - City of Key West population is 350 persons. [D]

1835, January 10 - The county purchases its first voting machines. [B]

1835, September 15 - During a hurricane, the American brig Seadrift, Captain Hoyt, sailing New York to Mobile with an assorted cargo, was cast ashore on Carysfort reef. The brig was later washed ashore at Key Largo, high and dry. [G]

1836 - Monroe resident Richard Fitzpatrick selected as President of the Florida Territorial Council. [A]

1836, February 14 - Jacob Houseman convinces the legislature to create Dade County, leaving Monroe County only with the land west of Bahia Honda. Indian Key becomes County Seat of Dade. Houseman was the County's first innkeeper, and established the first resort, the Tropical, in partnership with 20 wreckers who sought to escape from the jurisdiction of the Monroe County Courts. [H,Q]

1838 - Joseph Beverly Browne and Judge William Marvin are delegates to the St. Joseph's convention, which framed the first Florida Constitution. [A]

1840, August 7 - Indian Key, County Seat of Dade County, is razed by Indians. Indian Key and the rest of the islands revert back to Monroe County, establishing the current Dade-Monroe border. [H]

1841, October 18 and 19 - A hurricane battered the Key West area, and many ships piled up, especially at Mango Key, nine miles east of Key West. [G]

1844 - US Marine Hospital built in Key West. [J]

1844 - Permanent Army quarters established on South side of Key West [C]

1844, October 4-7 - A very destructive hurricane hit both Cuba and Key West. 158 vessels were wrecked, and over 2,500 houses were destroyed. [G]

1845 - John Costin is named the first Sheriff of Monroe County. [B]

1845 - Fort Taylor construction begins on the north side of Key West. [C]

1845, March 3 - Florida admitted to the union. [I]

1846 - Hurricane destroys previous construction of Fort Taylor. [C]

1846 - The Key West Lighthouse, located at the corner of Whitehead and Truman Avenues, was built after the hurricane of 1846 destroyed an earlier structure. Originally built 66 feet high, it was later raised to 110 feet. [J]

1846, October 12 - A hurricane struck Key West, causing over 20 ships to be sunk or grounded. [G]

1850 - The Key West salt crop is 35,000 bushels, controlled by Charles Howe and W. C. Dennis. [T]

1850 - Narcisco L¢pez' ship Creole takes refuge in Key West after aborted attempt at liberation of Cuba from Spain. [D]

1850 - Key West resident Stephen R. Mallory elected to the US Senate. [A]

1852, November 8 - Father J. N. Brazard arrives in Key West, first resident Catholic priest in Monroe County. [C]

1853 - Carysfort Light is the first navigational light built in the Keys, off Carysfort light near Key Largo. [H]

1853 - Sand Key Light House, off Key West and only 80 miles from Cuba, was completed. The light was 110 feet above sea level, and could be seen from 18 miles away. [Q]

1859 - Fire destroys William H. Wall's cigar factory, on Front Street at corner Duval and Fitzpatrick. 50 cigarmakers lost their jobs in the business established in 1831. [D]

1860 - The leading newspaper, The Key of the Gulf, William H. Ward, Editor, supports Breckenridge for President. Mr. Ward was a strong Confederate supporter, and was later forced to flee town to avoid persecution by Union forces. [C]

1860 - Salt manufacture and export was a major industry in Key West. [C]

1860 - Key West is the wealthiest town per capita in the United States. [C]

1860, June - More than 1,500 negro slaves from ships captured off the Cuban coast are delivered to Key West. They were all "comfortably though roughly housed." Black county residents (former slaves, Bahamians and Cubans) were an important part of the labor force for the cigar industry in the latter half of the 1800's. [R,P]

1861 - The first railroad on the island of Key West was built to carry supplies between the Martello Towers and Fort Taylor. It was also a source of Sunday afternoon entertainment for local boys who rode the cars. [P]

1861 - Construction on the two Martello Towers (forts) begins. [C]

1861 - Fort Taylor completed and occupied in Key West. [C]

1861, January 13 - At night, Captain James M. Brannan marched his troops from the south side of the island to Fort Taylor to prevent possession of the fort by citizens loyal to the confederacy. [C]

1861, April 6 - Major W. H. French, 5th US Artillery, arrives in Key West from Texas to avoid surrender. Key West now is clearly under Union control. [C]

1861, May 8 - Publication of the county's major newspaper, Key of the Gulf, is suspended by Union Major W. H. French, the Commander of Fort Taylor. He stated his reason was because it was "treasonable and used threatening language against the judiciary and other United States officers." No arrests were made, because Editor William Ward quickly left town. [C]

1861, May 8 - Confederate-loyal State Courts are suspended in Key West. The most prominent local Judge is William Marvin, who is Union sympathetic. [C]

1861, June 11 - The blockade of Key West is relaxed to allow normal trading with loyal States and Cuba. 14 ships leave Key West Harbor. [C]

1861, August 13 - Lieutenant T. M. Craven, US Navy, establishes that an oath of allegiance to the Union must be taken by the owners of any vessel before leaving Key West Harbor. [C]

1862, May 23 - Unionist paper, New Era reports that the war has conferred great distinction of the City of Key West, because of its support of the Union cause. Note that this was one year to the month after it's competitive newspaper, Key to the Gulf, was forced to stop publication by the Union command. [C,J]

1862, June 17 - Judge Winer Bethel, William Pinckney and W. D. Cash are arrested and held for several months imprisonment without trial for alleged Confederate sympathies. [C]

1862, September - Yellow fever appears in Key West, first at Fort Taylor, where four deaths occurred. Admiral Farragut from New Orleans declares a 30-day quarantine on all vessels touching Key West. [C]

1865 - Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was imprisoned at Fort Jefferson, allegedly for being one of the four "Lincoln Conspirators." Unaware that John Wilkes Booth had assassinated President Lincoln, he set Booth's leg which had been broken when escaping from Ford's Theater. The physician was sentenced to life imprisonment, but after helping fight a yellow fever epidemic in 1867, he was released in March 1869. [Q]

1865, July - Key West is discontinued as a Naval Station, and all employees are let go. [C]

1867 - Samuel Seidenberg, a German ‚migr‚ who moved to Key West from New York, founded the Globe cigar factory, pioneering the Key West clear Havana industry. He constructed a cluster of 200 cigar worker's housing units. Rent was deducted directly from the worker's wages. [D]

1868 - The first theatrical performance in the Keys in given at Fort Jefferson. The play was Thirty Months at Fort Jefferson, published by Harper's in 1868, written by surgeon J. B. Holder. 17 actors. [S]

1868, October 10 - Cuban revolution causes thousands of Cubans to emigrate to Key West, spurring cigar industry on the island. [D]

1869 - A Spaniard by birth, Vicente Mart¡nez Ybor fled Cuba to Key West to avoid political prosecution. He founded the "El Principe de Gales" brand of cigar, and was probably the first Hispanic business owner in South Florida. [D]

1869 - Democrat Joseph Beverly Browne defeats E. L. Ware of the "black Republican" party for Mayor. [A]

1870 - Monroe County's first free public school is established in Key West. [C]

1870 - Republican James W. Locke defeats Democrat Walter C. Maloney, Jr., for State Senate. [A]

1871 - San Carlos organization formed to assist unemployed. [D]

1872 - Dr. J. W. V. R. Plummer organizes the "liberal" Republican Party (as opposed to "black"), in response to disapproval by many local Republicans with reconstruction policy. [A]

1873 - National recession causes major unemployment in Key West. [D]

1873 - Dr. J. V. Harris settles in Key West, after serving as Chief Surgeon of the Confederate States Navy. [B]

1874 - The City of Key West's first public school was built, named Sears School. It was torn down in 1909. [P]

1874 - Cuban-born Eduardo Hidalgo Gato came to Key West after operating a successful cigar business in New York. He founded "Gatoville" on Simonton Street, between Truman and South Beach, which contained his factory and worker housing. Gato was the first Cuban to own a business in South Florida. [D]

1874 - Key West's first labor union is formed, the Cooperative Union of Cigarmakers. [D]

1874 - Monroe County's first black Sheriff is elected: James A. Roberts, Republican, serving 1874-1877. [A]

1876 - Hurricane destroys salt industry in Key West. [T]

1876 - Carlos Manuel de C‚spedes (for whom the San Carlos organization was named) is elected Mayor of Key West, attracting large Cuban voting bloc to the Republican Party. [D]

1876 - Texas-born Pincus Pohalski founds the "Monte Cristo" brand cigar, and established "Pohalski City," near the corner of White and Division (now Truman) Streets. [D]

1876 - Key West's first labor strike is called by the Cooperative Union of Cigarmakers. Strike was quickly negotiated. [D]

1877 - Conch local malitia formed, The Key West Rifles, to control labor unrest. 80 members. [D]

1877 - Democrat Livingston W. Bethel defeats Republican Dr. J. W. V. R. Plummer for mayor, in a highly spirited campaign. [A]

1878 - Cuban "Ten-year war" (1868-1878) civil conflict ends, many Cubans return home from Key West, Key West is a "ghost town". [D]

1880-1887 - Jewish settlers arrived in this period. Browne [A] places a date of

1887, Windhorn and Langley date their arrival at 1880 [P]. Both agree that early Jewish settlers were street peddlers. [A,P]

1880 - Key West's first spanish language newspaper, El Yara, founded by Jos‚ Dolores Poyo. [D]

1880 - Cubans return to Key West, after disillusionment with general conditions in Cuba. [D]

1880 - Key West is Florida's largest City (1880 census is 9,890). [C]

1880 - The Key West cigar industry included 57 manufacturers (up from 29 in 1875), and employed 2,995 people. [D]

1880 - General and ex-President Ulysses S. Grant visits Key West on a world tour. A torchlight procession was followed by a reception. [P]

1880 - Key West resident Livingston W. Bethel elected Florida Lieutenant Governor, serving 1881-1884. [A]

1882 - Amos and Eliza B. Lowe homestead a grant of 146 acres encompassing the south 1/3 of Tavernier. [Q]

1882 - Republican George W. Allen defeats Democrat C. B. Pendleton for State Senate in "the most bitter election ever held in Monroe County." [A]

1883 - Second San Carlos building opened in Key West. [D]

1884 - Settler John (Johnny Brush) Pinder built the Island Home, one of the Key's best known sailing schooners, in Plantation Key. [Q]

1885 - Mule-drawn street car franchise granted in Key West. [P]

1885 - Port of Key West is 13th largest port in the US. [D]

1885, September 2 - The Union de Tabaqueros, a labor union of cigarmakers in Key West, called a general strike which lasted several months and was settled on this date. The strike caused a general economic depression on the island. [D]

1886, April 1 - A fire beginning at the (second) San Carlos building on Duval Street in early morning spread throughout the downtown area of Key West. Within hours, more than 50 buildings were consumed, including the docks. Firefighters stopped the fire at Greene Street. Damage was assessed at over $1.5 million. Samuel Wolf's cigar box factory was destroyed, which was devastating to the local cigar industry. The cause of the fire is questionable, but may have been by arson by the Spanish government, annoyed by Key West's support of Cuban revolutionaries. [D]

1887 - Lee County is created out of Monroe. [A]

1888 - Two years after the City fire, downtown Key West is rebuilt using 4,000 former cigar workers. This year there were 129 cigar establishments in the City, an all-time high. [D]

1888, October 11 - Cuban anarchist Enrique Messonier forms the labor union Federaci¢n Local de Tabaqueros in Key West. [D]

1888 - Monroe County's second black Sheriff is elected: Charles Dupont, Republican, who served 1889-1893. Also elected this year was a black Republican County Judge, who was later removed from office for malfeasance. Also elected was Republican George Hudson, County Clerk. [A]

1889 - Third San Carlos building constructed in Key West. [D]

1889, March - City of Key West newspaper, the Key West Equator Democrat, lists 64 cigar factories in the city. [P]

1889, December - Anarchist led union strikes the cigar industry in Key West, disrupting the economy. [D]

1890 - Key West. The Florida First National Bank is constructed on the corner of Front and Duval. Founded by George W. Allen and William R. Porter, it is now owned by Southeast Bank, NA. [P,J]

1890 - The first ice manufacturing company established in Key West. Previously, ice was shipped in from Maine. [P]

1890 - The Key West cigar industry produces 100 million cigars this year, its record. [D]

1890's - Marathon's first Blacks, the Rigby family, arrive from the Bahamas. [Q]

1890 - Cuban revolutionary Jos‚ Mart¡ convinces local cigarmakers who had fled Key West back to Cuba during the anarchist strikes to return. He transforms the Union appeal politically to a Cuban Revolutionary base instead of anarchism. By 1892, Mart¡ attained total control of unions in Key West. [D]

1891 - The Key West City Hall structure built on Greene Street. 8,400 square feet, cost $58,500. [E]

1891 - New Monroe County Courthouse opens at 500 Whitehead Street. [J]

1891 - Following the formation of the Merchant's Protection Association in 1889, a Key West City Charter amendment was adopted to require each City street peddler, then all Jews, to pay an annual license fee of $1,000. This had the result of forcing the peddlers to open shops, and others to move their trade to Miami. [A,P]

1892, October 19 - A major strike is called against the cigar industry in Key West. [D]

1893 - The national "Panic of 1893" caused severe economic recession in Key West, with high unemployment. [D]

1896 - William Curry died as the State's richest man. He was a Key West merchant, but made most of his money through a fleet of wrecking ships which operated from Key West. [E]

1898, February 15 - The USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, precipitating the Spanish-American War. Many of the dead were buried in the Key West City cemetery. [J]

1899 - Electric powered street cars introduced in Key West, replacing mule-drawn transportation. [P]

1901 - Dr. H. F. Moore, head of the US Bureau of Fisheries, establishes a station at Sugarloaf Key to experiment in the raising of sponges. This is the first reference to Sugarloaf Key. [Q]

1901, September 20 - The City of Key West's first Catholic church, Church of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea, was destroyed by fire. [P]

1904, September 8 - The largest cargo of limes ever handled in the State arrives in Key West from Key Largo. [B]

1905 - Construction began on the Overseas railroad, to be completed in 1912, [M]

1905 - Jewish organization Rodof Sholam, later known as B'nai Zion, bought Dr. Maloney's home at the corner of Simonton and Southard as a congregation hall. [A]

1906, early - A major fish kill occurred on Long Key, due to cold temperatures. At Tavernier the temperature dropped to 31 degrees, the only recorded freezing temperature in the County. [Q]

1906 - In Key West, the Gamewell Fire Alarm System was installed, which allowed citizens to report a fire. [E]

1906 - Key West Realty Company purchases land previously used for salt production, to be divided into residential lots. [T]

1906 - Marathon is named by a comment of a railroad worker, after a hurricane this year destroyed much of his work. "This is becoming a real marathon," he said. Workers were paid $1.25 per day. [Q]

1907 - Key West had 38 licensed saloons. [A]

1907, November 4 - After 25% of the registered voters signed petitions, an election was held to decide if saloons should be prohibited. The "dry" movement was led by various clergy, especially Rev. E. A. Harrison of First Methodist. Albert F. Shultz was campaign manager for the anti-saloon faction. Mayor J. N. Fogarty led the "wets," which carried the county by a 48 majority. [A]

1908 - Louise Maloney Hospital opens in Key West at 532 Fleming Street. Dr. John B. Maloney, Chief Surgeon, named it for his wife. [J]

1908 - Rail service completed and operating to Knights Key at Marathon. [Q]

1908 - Johnson's Drug Store, located opposite Johnson's Hotel on Duval Street, is destroyed by fire. [P]

1911 - A new cigar box factory is established in Key West, the first since the

1886 fire. [D]

1911, January 30 - Curtis Aircraft test pilot J. A. W. McCurdy, attempted to fly a pedal-pushed bi-plane from Key West to Havana. He was rescued uninjured by a US Destroyer somewhere between here and there. [P]

1912, January 22 - Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad completed to Key West, built at a cost of $50 million. Flagler was greeted by enormous crowds and Mayor J. N. Fogarty, as he arrived in his private car, Rambler. [H]

1912, December 21 - President William H. Taft arrived to Key West by train, en-route to inspect the building of the Panama Canal. He returned again on December 29, on his way back to Washington DC. [J]

1913, May 19 - Agustin Parla Orduna, a native Key Wester, completes the first solo flight from Key West to Mariel, Cuba. A 1990 attempt by Hispanic activists to re-name the Key West airport after him was unsuccessful. [E,J,P]

1917 - County issues roadway construction bonds for bridges throughout the Keys, including Key West-Stock Island, and Card Sound to Key Largo. Upon completion of this second bridge system in 1928 until the hurricane in 1935, a dual transportation system - roads and railroad - existed. The only span not covered by the alternate road was a 40-mile ferry ride between Lower Matecumbe and No Name Key. [M]

1918 - A "WaterFront Pass" identification card is issued by the US Marshal, required of anyone doing business along the Key West waterfront during World War I. A display of these passes is in the hallway of the Tax Appraiser's office at 500 Whitehead Street (2nd floor) today (1991). [P,J]

1918 - Key West is used as a coaling station for submarines during WW I. [P]

1919 - Charles and Pete Chase (father and son) sell their "Florida Sponge and Fruit" business on Sugarloaf Key to their top real estate salesman, R. C. Perky, after the firm's bankruptcy, for $10,000. [Q]

1921 - The Casa Marina Hotel in Key West was built by the Florida East Coast Railroad. [P]

1924 - Fourth San Carlos building constructed in Key West. [D]

1926 - Key West. The La Concha Hotel was built on the previous site of The Duval Central, a private home converted into a rooming house. [P]

1927, October 28 - The first commercial flight leaves from Key West airport. It was constructed by Juan Trippe, President and general manager of Pan American Airways, who at that time had never flown a commercial flight. The budget was $2500 for the first terminal. The airport was originally called Meacham Field, named for Edward Meacham, who bought the land from Key West Realty Corporation in 1925. After Meacham's untimely death following the stock market crash, the land reverted back to the realty firm. [E]

1928, January 25 - The first car traveled the newly completed Over-Sea Highway. [Q]

1929-1930 - Pirate's Cover Fishing Camp is completed at Sugarloaf Key by New England shoe manufacturer C. Irving Wright. The camp was destroyed by the 1948 hurricane. [Q]

1929, March, April - City of Key West bought 15 railroad carloads of rock asphalt to cover abandoned streetcar tracks. [B]

1929, March 15 - Real Estate speculator R. C. Perky (qv., 1919) dedicates his "bat tower" on Sugarloaf Key "to good health." The tower was intended to control mosquitos, after a similar project in San Antonio, TX. The scheme failed, but the tower remains today, restored in the late 1980's by Lloyd Good, the current landowner. [Q,J]

1930's - The Highway Gospel Hall was built on Upper Matecumbe by lay preacher Copeland Johnson. The 1935 hurricane destroyed the Church and also claimed the lives of Johnson and his wife. [Q]

1931 - Federal building, and former US Post office in Key West at corner of Simonton and Caroline Streets begins construction, at a total cost of $345,000. Coral slabs for the building's exterior were quarried in Islamorada. [P]

1931 - Ernest Hemingway moved into a Whitehead Street house built by Confederate shipbuilder Asa Tift. Hemingway and his second wife Pauline bought the house at a tax sale for $8,000, and later added Key West's first swimming pool. [O]

1932 - The Tavernier Tea Room, later to become Harry Harris' restaurant, is completed. [Q]

1934, July 1 - City of Key West declares bankruptcy, with bonded indebtedness exceeding $5 million, public employees paid in script, and more than half the population on relief. Merchants used the script to pay taxes. [P]

1935 - Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas is declared a National Monument [Q]

1935, Labor Day - The most severe hurricane recorded in this hemisphere lands near Islamorada. Winds 200-250 MPH, barometer 26.35 inches. Accounts of loss of life vary, but was probably in excess of 1,000. The railroad was destroyed. [H]

1935 - Eddie Sweeting, a contractor and store-keeper, was the first to rebuild after the hurricane in Islamorada. [Q]

1937 - Luther Pinder built a fishing camp and dining hall on Boca Chica, later replaced by the US Army. [Q]

1937, November 14 - A monument to the victims of the 1935 hurricane is unveiled on upper Matecumbe Key. Faye Marie Parker, a child who survived the hurricane, leads the ceremony which was popularly attended. [Q]

1938 - The Overseas Highway opened under control of the Overseas Railroad and Toll Commission, which bought the abandoned right- of-way and bridges destroyed by the 1935 hurricane for $3,600,000. [B]

1939, February 19 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt drove down the Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West. [Q]

1940's - Arthur McKee came to Plantation Key to exploit treasure salvage. A hard-hat diver, McKee located and salvaged substantial treasure from 3 of 17 lost wrecks of the 1733 Spanish Fleet. He established a museum. [Q]

1940 - In Key West, German x-ray technician Karl von Cosel is arrested for "illegally exhuming a body." The embalmed corpse of Elena Hoyos Mesa, a beautiful Cuban girl who died of tuberculosis, was kept dressed in white satin and nicely preserved in Von Cosel's bed. Statute of limitations prevented prosecution, and von Cosel moved to Zephyrhills, FL, where he sold postcards of the dead girl. [P]

1940, May 28 - City of Key West adopts its first zoning and land use ordinances. [P]

1941 - Eugene Lowe encourages a fishing buddy, Charles E. Wilson, a V.P. of General Electric and head of the War Production Board, to realize the importance of WWII research being conducted in the Keys by MIT. The result was the formation of the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative. [Q]

1941, March - The US Navy and the Florida Keys Aqueduct Commission signed an agreement to build a 130 mile pipeline from Florida City to Key West. Previously, the primary source of water was from cisterns. [Q,J]

1942 - Pan American Airways had suspended its operations at Key West airport, and leased the land to the Army for $1 per year. [E]

1942, April-May - The freighter S.S. Benwood, loaded with ore, had collided with another ship and was limping toward shelter when a Nazi sub opened fire and sank her off Tavernier. German sub warfare reached a peak off Florida's coast about this time; the Navy reported 49 ships torpedoed or shelled during May. [Q]

1943 - US Marine Hospital closed in Key West, now used for military housing. [P]

1943, April - US Navy takes over Boca Chica airbase from the US Army, for use as a training base. The base hit a peak of 4,000 personnel in early 1945. [Q]

1944 - Jewfish Creek drawbridge in Key Largo completed. This is the oldest bridge still in use on US-1 in Monroe County. [M]

1944 - New charter for City of Key West adopted, allowing city manager form of government. Commissioners' salary established at $5 per meeting. [P]

1944 - World War II security concerns prompt rebuilding of much of US-1. This included using the former rail bed between Key West and Big Pine, and construction on the former rail bed of the "18- mile" stretch (actually 21 miles long) east of Key Largo. Formerly the only road was over Card Sound. [M,J]

1944, January - US Army transfers its interest in the Key West airport to the Navy, who used it for lighter-than-air operations. [E]

1944, May 16 - Florida Governor Spessard L. Holland dedicates the opening of major improvements to the Overseas Highway. He remarked, "I dedicate this road to the greatness of the Keys." [Q]

1944, October 18 - Pipeline is completed over the Bahia Honda Bridge, contractor is paid $1,719,017. [Q]

1945, October 27 - John M. Spottswood, former Sheriff and State Senator, launches the first commercial radio station, WKWF. [P]

1946 - The "little White House" at Truman Annex in Key West is converted from a 2-family dwelling to a retreat for the President. Truman visited 11 times, the last in March 1969. [E]

1946 - The Marathon pumping station for the water pipeline is opened, built by Charley Toppino and Sons, Inc. [Q]

1949 - Playwright Tennessee Williams settles in Key West. [P]

1949 - Treasure hunter Art McKee opens his treasure museum on Plantation Key. [Q]

1950, early - Mrs. Grace H. Tauck, with guide Harry M. Snow, Sr., catch the American woman's world record bonefish off Marathon, 12 pounds, 14.5 ounces. [Q]

1950's, early - Developer Phil Sadowski had a causeway built from US-1 to the water's edge, and created what was to become the City of Key Colony Beach, just east of Key Vaca. [Q]

1950's, early - Monroe County Mosquito District is established. One of the first projects was to cover the City of Key West's dump on Stock Island. [Q]

1950 - No more than 12 homes on Matecumbe Key. [Q]

1952 - Investors Charles Helburg, Abe Golan and Vincent Conley sell the Key West airport land to Monroe County for $150,000, 156.363 acres. Part of the deal is that the sellers have the right to repurchase the land at the same price if it ever ceases to be used as an airport. [E]

1953 - Coral Shores School, the first upper Keys school, was founded by Charles C. Albury. The "professor" began teaching on Pigeon Key in the early 1930's, and was the first Principal of Coral Shores. [Q]

1954, April 15 - Tolls were removed from the Overseas highway. [F]

1957, July 4 - Key West International Airport, now owned by Monroe County, is dedicated by Representative Dante Fascell. The County began the $1,150,000 project in 1955, with $500,000 financed by the CAA. [E]

1957, August - US Congress establishes the National Key Deer refuge on Big Pine Key. Jack Watson, a Federal bird-refuge manager in the Keys, became the first full-time protector of this endangered species. [Q]

1962 - Key West City government offices moved from Greene Street to Angela Street. [E]

1969, March - President Truman makes his last visit to Key West. [E]

1973 - Manager of the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key Jack Watson was chosen Conservationist of the Year by the National Wildlife Federation. [Q]

1974, March 28 - The Key West airport control tower is completed and dedicated. [E]

1977 - US Congress appropriates $109 million for bridge construction on US-1. Construction began in 1978, and was completed in 1983. [M]

1981, March 2 - An FKAA truck hauling a backhoe struck a propane tank below the bridgetender's quarters on the seven mile bridge, causing an explosion and fire. The bridgetender died. The bridge remained closed to marine traffic until Spring of 1982, when the new bridge opened. Vehicular traffic was closed in both directions over US-1 for several days. [J,E]

1982, Spring - New seven mile bridge opens, with a span rising 65 feet over Moser Channel, replacing the damaged swingbridge. Cost was about $45 million. It was the largest segmented bridge in the world. [E]