The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-05-04

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Duval and Whitehead streets
These early buildings were re.
moved and in 1874 the present
ornamental buildings were erect.
TT. Taylor was commenced II
1916, but was not completed I'M
til 1866 due to a hurricane that
destroyed or washed away the
few uncompleted structures.
Jefferson Davis was the Secre-
tary of War during the Pierce adj
ministration. 1t is strongly be-
lieved that Davis foresaw the Civ
i'll War and thought of erecting
forts here for the benefit of the
South, while peace was still in
power. Although it is probable
that he erected these forts, known
as the MarteIlo Towers, at Key
West for the Confederate's bene-
fit, the South never had the pleas
ure of exerting its power in the
forts or over the island city, be-
cause Key West was under the Un-
ion flag throughout the Civil War.
Incorporated
The island of Key West was in
corporated in 1928 as town by
an act of the Legislative Council
of the Territory of Florida. The
government of the town was main
.ly in the hands of one man, called
the President, and in Council,
to consist of six persons. The
first president of the town was
ID. G. Pinkham. In 1882, the in
corporated town gave place to an
incorporated city.
Key West derived its import
ance in the commercial world
from:
First. It's geographical position,
1t being the extreme southern
point in the United States.
Second. For its capacious
harbor, the great depth Of water
over its bar and the ease of in
gress and egress to and from it's
outer and inner roadsteads, and
Third. Such ready protection
to her shipping, naval and other
wise, in time of war and stress of
weather. The United States
government established Custom
House at Key West in 1922. The
revenues of the Custom House at
Key West show an average of
s45, 900 annually from 1923 to
1882. In 1876 Key West paid
1892, 035.80 for Internal Revenue
to the United States. 1t is esti-
mated that the receipts from this
source for 1877 were $225.0O0.OO
ian amount not only larger than
was paid by any other city in the
state, but more than was paid by
all the other cities in the state put
together.)
The total population of the town
in 1881 is recorded at 500. At
that time Miami was a mosquito
swamp on the Miami river. The
were about their only
inhabitants. Miami remained in
this condition for over half cen
fury longer. while Key West kept
steadily on the increase, until the
city was the largest in the state.
This was in 1876.
Religious Nature
It is well to state that the early
inhabitants of our island were of
q religious character. As early
as 1882 they held public services
in what was known as the County
Court House. The first known
church of this city was the Protes-
tant Episcopal church tthis show
ing that the early settlers were
of English descent.l In Novem-
Der, 1892, q Sunday school was
commenced, which in january,
1888, had between fifty and sixty
children in ATTENDANCE. BY 1876,
the membership was six hundred
and seventy. There were church
es of different denominations or
ganized early in the history, name
~, Methodist, Baptist and the Ro-
man Catholic.
Educational matters were Of
early Importance. The earliest
school dates back TO 1885, and
was kept by Rev. Bennett Of the
st. Paul's congregation. BY 1875,
the children attending school in
Key West numbered 1900. Ev-
eryone actively assisted in the mp
keep of the school system Of our
city. and let me say here thar even
TO the present time, we have q
school system for which every 10y
al Key West citizen should feel
proud.
Key West Is proud 10 lay claim
to having some OF the oldest ssruc-
lures in the state. ST. Augustine.
alone. Is popular for being an old
city and having ancient structures.
but few people. even IN our own
city. stop to think that we have
buildings dating back = hundred
years. Some people viii say q
hundred years isn't very long.
That Is true enough more espee>
tally when stated in words. but
there are very few people left
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