Saturday, May 18, 2013

ON THIS DAY IN:

1903 Fred Ewert was arrested for the brutal murder of Frank Whitaker.

1913 Agustin Orduan Parla, a Key West native, flew his seaplane to Cuba, becoming the second man to make the flight. He lost the race to be the first to Domingo Rosillo, who flew on May 17.

1926 Monroe County Sheriff Roland Curry, injured two days' prior when caught between a capsized boat and the rocks of the Bahama Islands shore, died at his residence in the jail building.

1934 Shortly after 6 p.m., a peculiar looking haze could be seen about 3 miles above the horizon, and many Key Westers saw a reflection of Havana. It was reported that buildings such as the Morro Castle and the presidential palace could be clearly seen.

1949 Gen. Eurico Gaspar Dutra, president of Brazil, departed Key West for Washington, D.C., where he met with President Truman.

1955 The Navy announced plans to build 83 housing units on the Naval Station, at the end of United Street, on land leased to Monroe County and used as Ocean View Park, a segregated beach for African-Americans.

1975 The Florida Keys Community College gave the School Board 8.5 acres of land for the building of Gerald Adams Elementary School.

1991 Queen Elizabeth II of England visited the Fort Jefferson National Monument at the Dry Tortugas, where she was welcomed by Monroe County Mayor and Queen Conch Wilhelmina Harvey.