The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-09
Paper On Key Vests History
MARIETTA SILvIERA
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| The following is copy Of the
paper on Key Vests history con-
tributed by Marietta Silviera, win
ner Of third prize, in the contest
among high school pupils which
closed here recently:
The Ideal Place
At the end of the chain of Flor
ida Keys, surrounded by the blue
waters of the Gulf of Mexico and
the Atlantic Ocean, hes Key West.
1t is now joined to the remainder
of the chain by one of the eight
wonders of the world the Florida
East Coast Extension Railroad.
This is indeed. a marvellous and
stupendous accomplishment of
mans brain and Drawn against the
odds of nature. IL IS wen worth
anyone's time to see and travel
over. This island is also con-
hected to the mainland by the
Oversee Highway, and gives one
the pleasure of q drive practically
the whole way on a good road
bordered by the sea.
Key West is approximately sew
en- miles long and three miles
wide and is about twenty feet
above sea level. Its climate is
unexcelled. 1t is the only frost
free city in the United States and
| it is famed constantly by the
health-giving breezes in summer
and winter. One may go bathing
here in winter as well as summer.
Sunshine is daily beverage. The
white sand beaches afford the
visitor the privilege Of lying laz-
lily in the sun. as long as he wish
es before and after his dip in the
warm, transparent. waters of the
Gulf Stream.
The waters around here are.
considered the most beautifully
colored in the world. No paint
er or poet can reproduce their
beauty on canvas or in verse. The
facilities for fishing are nur1er-
Gus and there is no end to the va
riety OF fish to be caught. One
may throw his lire over d bridge
rail--in q few moments d nip and
q prizel Likewise, ones luck may
be better still from a small boat;
OF in deeper water with a rod
and reel. Over six hundred va
rieties Of edible fish can be caught
in these waters, besides the game
fish. TaTpon fishing, the sport
of kings, keeps ones interest to
the highest pitch. Al battle of.
wits with this Silver King Is Sec
ond only iii thrills to i tiger hunt
IN the African junRies with none
of the dangers. Green sea tur-.
tie, which were formerly very nu-
merous III this Vicinity. have dwind-
led greatly in abundance, but they
are still caught by local schooners
off the coast of Nicaragua and
brought here. The choicest parts
are used for making soup, which.
is considered great delicacy,
while the rest of the meat is sold
in the market or shipped in ice
to neighboring towns. Key West.
is the only place in the United
States where Green Sea Turtles
are canned.
Review Of Past
Let us 60 hack for few min-
utes and review the past, for its
history will explain many of its
present characteristics. The ear
Hest recorded date about this is
land Is to be found in grant of
"Cayo Hueso" on August 20. 1916
by Don Juan de Estrada, the then
Governor Of Florida, to Juan Pab-
10 Salas. The grant recited that
It was ''in consideration of the
several services rendered him at
different times II was not un-l
til some years later that it was
purchased for the sum Of $1,000
by Mr.. John w. Simonton. for
whom one Of the prominent streets
is still named. The establishment
of q territorial government for
Florida in 1919 was the actual
beginning of the settlement and
development of Key West.
Many names were given the is
land, but they did not remain long
in use. There is no authentic
record of the origin of the name
key West" Of which two ex-I
plantations are given. One, that
II Is the most westerly Of the
chain az Florida Keyshence
Key West; the other that II is al
corruption Of the Spanish words
"Cayo Hueson meaning bone key.
The oldest settler in this part OF
the country whose residence In the
neighborhood of Charlotte Har-