Sunday, April 10, 2005

This Week on the Island 04/10/2005

This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Weather: What can I say.

Hunk Hogan and his wife and daughter were in town last week. He is a really big guy. They spent some time at 801 Bourbon Street and were entertained by Sushi the female impersonator.

The Navy unloaded $1 billion in cocaine on the outer mole dock. It will be sent to Miami for destruction. Makes me wonder why they didn't just take it to Miami to unload. Maybe it is part of a recycle program.

There is another square rigger in the Key West Bight this week. It is named the 'Spirit of Mirinda' and is looking for crew to sail her back to the New England area. I could not find a website for it.

Friday night there was a nice fireworks display in the Key West Harbor at 9:00 PM. It was put on by some people getting married at the Hilton. Wyleigh, Sassi and I went to Mallory Square to view it.

In 1935 Sloppy Joe Russell closed his bar on Green Street and move the entire contents of the bar overnight to the building on the corner of Duval and Green.

In 1928 Ernest and Pauline Hemingway visited Key West for the first time. They were here to pick up a car.




Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conch Token'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett

-------------------------------------------------------History-----------------------------------------There have been rumors of caves under Key West for over 200 years. Mrs. Soldano, on the corner of Angela and Elizabeth, died at 94 years old and willed the property to her grandson. This area is known as Solaris Hill because it is 18 feet above sea level. Mrs. Soldano had not allowed anyone on the property for all of her life. Her grandson opened the yard to the newspapers. There are 5 large walled pits with fresh water wells in the bottom. At one time a bottle factory was erected on the top of these pits. Many years ago this area was used by the Indians and the pirates for fresh water. Under the table in the house was a trap door that led to another walled pit that was full of rum demijohns from the 1920 and the Key West rum runner days. What an interesting place to live.