Monroe County Public Library

South Florida's oldest public library, dating back to 1892. Home to the Florida Keys History Center. [email protected]

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Image: Damage from the 11 October 1909 hurricane. The Heritage House Collection, donated by the Campbell, Poirier and Pound families. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 11, 1909 – A category 3 hurricane with winds over 100 mph and rainfall of 8.12 inches in five hours struck Key West.

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Image: Boot Key (foreground) and the bridge connecting it to Marathon. Photo taken by the federal government on October 7, 1987. From the Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 10, 1975 – After refusing to pay a new $11 per cubic yard disposal fee, the City of Key Colony Beach was barred from using the Monroe County dump at Boot Key. Key Colony had a policy of not charging for trash pickup, and the mayor vowed not to break it.

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Image: Windley Key on March 7, 1956. From the archives of Edwin O. Swift III. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 6, 1985 – The State of Florida purchased the old rock quarry on Windley Key for $2.3 million under its Conservation and Recreational Lands program. The keystone quarry features spectacular fossilized reef structures in its 18-foot vertical walls.

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Image: Monroe County Courthouse and Jail on Whitehead Street in Key West, 1920s. Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 5, 1925 – Thomas Pinder was appointed caretaker of the Monroe County Courthouse grounds at Jackson Square in Key West. Pinder was to tend to the hundreds of recently planted shrubs and trees and stop attacks on them by boys who frequented the grounds.

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Image: Monroe County Public Library at Islamorada on Upper Matecumbe Key, ca. 1965. Photo taken by the Property Appraisers office. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 4, 1985 – The Monroe County Commission named the public library branch at Islamorada in honor of the branch’s librarian, Helen Wadley.

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Image: Key West Salt Ponds and South Roosevelt Boulevard in July 1985. From the Bill Westray collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 3, 1985 – The City of Key West listed privately owned areas of the Key West salt ponds as desirable for purchase by the State of Florida under its Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program.

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Image: Dairy Queen, 1207 United Street, Key West. Tract 14, Square 2, Lots 6 and 8. Photo taken by the Monroe County Property Appraiser's office ca. 1965. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 2, 1951 – The City Planning Board approved a zoning change for Dairy Queen to build an ice cream store on United Street near White Street.

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Image: Pan American Airways seaplane in the yacht basin at the Key West Naval Station on February 14, 1937. Photo from the Romer Historic Files. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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October 1, 1935 – The landing barge for the Miami-Key West Airways seaplanes was moved from the railroad terminus to the yacht basin (the former Naval Station submarine basin), which was better located and better protected.

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Image: The Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center at the Florida Keys Community College taken April 29, 2006. From the Dale McDonald Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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September 30, 2005 – The Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center at Florida Keys Community College was forced to close after being damaged by multiple tropical weather systems over the summer. A 500-seat, air-conditioned tent was to be erected in the parking lot.

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Image: Charles Dupont and family. From left: Irma, Sheriff Dupont, Cleo, wife Ida, Charles Jr. and daughter Ida in front. Gift Mrs. Helena A. Hudgen. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

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September 29, 1938 – Key Wester Charles F. Dupont died at age 77. In 1888, he became the first elected African American Sheriff in Florida when he was selected by Monroe County voters. He served as Monroe County Sheriff for 5 years. Key West’s Dupont Lane is named in his honor.