Saturday, February 2, 2013

ON THIS DAY IN:

1926Jack Dempsey, world heavyweight boxing champion, and Mrs. Dempsey, his trainers and sparring partners arrived on the way to Havana. Dempsey put on several exhibitions while in Key West.

1931 Mrs. Pauline Hemingway caught a sailfish that measured 7-foot-1-inch to set a record for the season.

1953 Famed orchestra leader Guy Lombardo and his family checked into the Casa Marina Hotel for an extended vacation.

1960 The United States Department of Agriculture had inspectors searching for wild cotton in the Keys. All plants were destroyed to prevent the spread of pink bollworm.

1967 Wisteria Island (also known as Christmas Tree Island) was sold for $155,000. The seller was Wisteria Island Inc. The buyer was F.E.B. Corp. of 1526 Washington St. -- the address of Ben Bernstein, a major land developer of Stock Island.

1970Guy Lombardo and his orchestra were the featured entertainment at the dedication of the new Indies Inn Convention Hall on Duck Key.

1972John M. Spottswood sold Munson Island to Country Johnston of Valdosta, Ga. for $150,000.

1982 An Air Florida passenger plane from Miami to Key West was hijacked and taken to Cuba.

1998 A ferocious winter storm swept the Keys. Three tornadoes touched down on Grassy Key, Conch Key, Duck Key and Valhalla Beach areas.