an old picture of a boat in the water

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY: THE SEA MONSTER IN THE LIBRARY

In the early 1980s, sparked by a passionate love for my island home, I became obsessed with Key West history. But I never dreamed...
a black and white photo of an old town

KEYS HISTORY: RECALLING THE WEATHER REPORT AND A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE LABOR DAY...

Elvis Presley was born in 1935. Porky Pig made his Looney Tunes debut the same year. Additionally, Babe Ruth hit his 714th (and final)...
a couple of vans parked in front of a building

KEYS HISTORY: HOTEL TRANSFORMS INTO A HOSPITAL FOR TURTLE RECOVERY AND RELEASE IN MARATHON

Key Vaca is the heart of Marathon, and Marathon bills itself as the heart of the Florida Keys.  As the highway crosses the island, its...
a black and white photo of a train on tracks

COMMUNITY TO REMEMBER LIVES LOST IN DEVASTATING 1935 HURRICANE DURING CEREMONY IN ISLAMORADA

Ninety years later, a community still gathers to remember the hundreds of lives lost in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.  Many who perished were World...
a store front with a palm tree in front of it

‘SURE, JIMMY’ — THE BIRTH OF ‘THE COCONUT TELEGRAPH’

There should have been trumpets blaring. At least that’s what I thought years later, pondering the moment’s significance in the launch of Jimmy Buffett’s...
a black and white photo of a harbor

KEYS HISTORY: MARATHON’S ORIGINS GO BACK TO A RAILROAD TOWN

Marathon began as a railroad town. During the construction of the right of way for the Key West Extension of Henry Flagler’s East Coast...

KEY WEST BACK IN THE DAY: BUFFETT & ‘THE MARGARITAVILLE MOVIE’

If you hung out at the Chart Room, Full Moon Saloon or Louie’s Backyard in Key West during the late 1970s and early ’80s,...

KEYS HISTORY: MILE MARKER 0

The Great Florida Keys Road Trip comes to an end, not with a whimper, but a big Key West bang.  After crossing Cow Key Channel,...
a wooden table topped with plates of food

KEYS HISTORY: ENJOY ICONIC ISLAND EATS AND HISTORICAL TIDBITS AT ROBBIE’S 

I entered the workforce at 11. It was in a pet store in 1976. I was paid $1.50 per hour.  I didn’t last long in...
a black and white photo of a dirt road

KEYS HISTORY: OLD MONROE COUNTY SPANNED WELL BEYOND THE ISLAND CHAIN

It is always interesting to see where a column goes. I start with an idea and then let the history unfold as it needs...

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