Reflecting on Our Past: Key Historical Events in Key West on May 25th

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The article 'Today in Keys History – May 25, 2024' outlines significant historical events in Key West on May 25th over various years. It starts in 1860, when the USS Crusader brought the captured slave ship Bogota to Key West. The ship carried 411 Africans, who were handed over to U.S. Marshal Fernando J. Moreno. This incident was part of a broader effort that rescued 1,432 African refugees from illegal slave ships that month.

In 1861, Key West conducted a special election to replace officials from the old Florida state laws. Alexander Patterson was elected mayor, indicating a shift towards Union support during the Civil War.

The article also references a 1873 Savannah newspaper report on sanitation issues in Key West, including the presence of dead cats and chickens on the streets, highlighting public health challenges of the time.

Additional events mentioned include the 1893 sale of the wrecked brig Acadia by the U.S. Marshal to Henry Williams of Key West for $345. In 1967, the Navy closed Truman Beach permanently due to safety risks from harbor dredging.