The Few, The Proud, The Marines in Key West Formal recognition of the Marine Corps Birthday began November 1, 1921, when the Commandant of the Marine Corps John A. LeJeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47. He summarized Marine Corps history, its missions and traditions and directed the order be read to all Marines on November 10th and again every year on that date. Eight decades later, Marines assemble wherever they're stationed, from foxholes to fancy ballrooms, to honor the founding of the Corps. The handful of Marines stationed in Key West today not only celebrate the birthday of the Corps but toast another year of duty in the Southernmost City that dates back to 1823. Story >>>

C.E. Yates was a chief carpenter for the P. & O. Steamship Line in 1918.

Angel Zamora, of 512 Olivia Street, was a Truckman for T.A. Lumley in 1918.

John Lowe, Jr. Dealer in Merchandise, Ship Chandlery and Exporter of Sponge. Born on Green Turtle Key inthe Bahama Islands in May 1833, his parents emigrated to Key West when he was an infant. It can truthfully be said of him that he is a self-made man, for in those days Key West was in her infancy, and the educational facilities offered were very limited. Story >>>

The War of the Oranges In March of 1949, a little blurb in the press regarding the president's daily breakfast menu started a new war between the states. The question was raised: what is the source of each morning's orange juice? That's all citrus-growers and their respective home state's citrus commissions needed to hear. A war of words soon started in the press between Florida, Texas and California. Boasts flew from coast to coast and one-upsmanship was the name of the game. Now the question was: which state's citrus reigned supreme? In this photograph, a contingent from the Florida Highway Patrol delivers a crate of Indian River fruit straight to the president's Key West front door. In his subsequent note to Broward county sheriff Walter Clark, Truman thanked his "friends in Fort Pierce" and went on to say, "All of us here in the Little White House now know the delicious flavor and superior merits of Florida products." Seems like a clear declaration that Florida oranges had taken this victory. From Key West History, Issue #18 - President Harry S. Truman's Fifth Visit to Key West  Back Issues >>

The remarkable recovery of Mr. John White, President of the John White Bank. It is said by the older residents of the city, who remembered him as he then looked, that no one who saw and conversed with him believed that he could possibly live more than three months; but Mr. White came to Key West to live, not to die; and, having an indomitable will, and never-ceasing energy, he applied his whole force to the one end, to recover his health, in which, as the sequel will show, he succeeded most admirably. Story >>>

James Rowell, from Miami, was an Engineer for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in 1918.

L.L. Tyre, from Ft. Pierce, was a Trainmen for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in 1918.

Saying goodbye the Caribbean way In the 1920s, the Welters Coronet Band played funeral music while accompanying the deceased on the way to the Key West Cemetery but switched to lively gospel music to accompany mourners home from the cemetery. Note the knees socks and uniforms, including caps, worn by band members, making summer burials uncomfortably hot. Other youngsters look on with some envy, as young band members earned a small payment for playing in the band. Small payment or not, it was money any youngster would find helpful. From Key West History, Issue #35 - Key West during the Great Depression  Back Issues  >>

J.E. Adams was an switchman for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in 1918.

Sketch of Mr. Benjamin P. Baker. From his courteous manners and affable bearing, coupled with industry, enterprise and integrity, the furniture annd undertaking business of Mr. Baker continued to grow until March, 1886, when the great fire of Key West leveled his house to the ground and burned up the whole of his stock. Undaunted, he rebuilt.   Story >>>

George E. Decker of Miami was an Engineer for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in 1918.

1889: The Collector of Customs Dr. J. V. Harris, the obliging and courteous Collector of Customs of the port of Key West, was born in the Abbeville district, South Carolina, in 1839.  His parents emigrated to South Carolina from Georgia, and in 1846 they moved to Columbus, Miss.  The doctor graduated from the University of Mississippi with high honors in 1859.  He then studied medicine and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana in 1861.  Story >>>

Edward N. Miller was a Trainman for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in 1918.

OVERSEAS HIGHWAY TO KEY WEST OPENS Three years after the 1935 Hurricane washed away the railroad, Key West was finally re-connected to the mainland. The highway between Lower Matecumbe and Big Pine Key became a toll road to satisy $8 million in construction bonds. The tolls were removed in 1954. Story >>>

Charles B. Costar was an Export Clerk for the Florida East Railway Company in 1918

202 Duval Street, c. 1900 An deep enlargement of the right side of the photo reveals an unidentified male standing behind the sign for Watchmaker & Jeweler Wm. McKillip. In 1900, McKillip's store's address was listed as 202 Duval Street. Story  >>>