20 Years ago

[Bobcat]

Separate road, the railroad was still operating until 1935. You can still travel alot of it.

[Ratickle]

So you got your car there on the train or a ferry? (I knew you were getting old).

[Bobcat]

1941: Joe “Sloppy Joe” Russell, bar operator and friend of writer Ernest Hemingway, died in Havana at age 51

[Bobcat]

1978: Key West Mayor Charles “Sonny” McCoy waterskied from Key West to Havana.

[Ratickle]

Did he get arrested when he returned?

[Bobcat]

It was open until 2003? He actually did it twice.

[Ratickle]

If he's done it twice, it must be your turn.....

[Bobcat]

1984: A Federal Grand Jury indicted a total of 22 people charged with a variety of offenses in connection with the operating of a cocaine trafficking ring and a protection network. Included in the group were the Key West deputy chief of police and two detectives.

[Bobcat]

Hotel La Concha business card with room rates. The DeWolfe and Wood Collection.


1924: The La Concha was the name chosen for the hotel on Duval Street. Louis T. Bragass submitted the contest-winning name and was given a $100 bond.

[Ratickle]

I think they should of named it Bra-Gass Street....

[Bobcat]

1953: The Navy held a court martial of a lieutenant commander who was in charge of the Navy Relief smoker held at the Cuban Club in February. Seven men were charged with staging the affair, which started as an ordinary “stag show” and degenerated into a sexual orgy.

[Bobcat]

1946: Captain Ray Knopp, in charge of the shark fishing boat Dusky, brought in a 1,800 pound mud shark caught in 100 fathoms of water off Rebecca Shoals. The monster was 15 feet in length with green eyes and no back fin and looked like a large sea cow.

[Bobcat]

1815: Juan Pablo Salas, a Spanish Royal Artillery Officer stationed in St. Augustine, was given a land grant for the island of Cayo Hueso by the Spanish Governor of Florida Don Juan de Estrada.

[Ratickle]

You need to convince them to give you an island.

[Bobcat]

I think this was same guy who robbed the Armored Truck.

1960: Key West policeman Sam Cagnina was arrested for armed robbery after he robbed Ringside Billiard Parlor at 922 Truman Ave.

[Bobcat]

1950: Thousand of fish were found in the streets of Key West after a heavy rain. Most of the fish were along Caroline Street between William and Grinnell. One theory was that a large water spout had carried the fish ashore. This theory was supported by the fact that most of the fish were mullet which swim on the surface and could be picked up by a water spout. Still others of the Caroline Street regulars insisted it had rained fish and one man said he had observed a full grown sponge fall from the sky.

1953: Infantry Sgt. Julio La Torre, of Key West, was among the first prisoners of war released by the North Koreans. He had been a prisoner for two and half years.

1965: The ship Seven Seas was towed into port by the Coast Guard after the ship was found disabled at sea. A crewman had killed five of his fellow crewmen and then left the vessel in a small boat. He was later saved by another ship and turned over to the Coast Guard. He was charged with murder in federal court in Miami.

[Ratickle]

1950: Thousand of sharks were found in the streets of Key West after a heavy rain. Most of the sharks were along Caroline Street between William and Grinnell. One theory was that a large water spout had carried the sharks ashore. This theory was supported by the fact that most of the sharks were Great Whites which swim on the surface and could be picked up by a water spout.

Hey, I saw that documentary on TV!!!

[Bobcat]

1979: Workers redigging a well at 902 Whitehead St. found gold estimated to be worth about $1,000. The gold was believed to be melted down coin.

[Ratickle]

You need to start digging wells instead of building walls?

[Bobcat]