Saturday, July 09, 2005

This Week on the Island 07/10/2005

'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.
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The Weather: Sunny and bright except for Hurricane Dennis on Friday night and Saturday.

July 4th. Hot and Sunny. Fireworks at White Street Pier. Wonderful.

Last week's 'This Week on the Island' was not to discourage anyone from coming to Key West. It was just some of the changes that have taken place since I moved here. Remember 'if things are not changing, then the place is dying'. This is a very growing and changing town. You don't have to agree with the changes, just accept the fact that things do change.

A LITTLE HISTORY: (1)When Key West was discovered by the Spanish it had many human bones on it. The Spanish called it 'Bone Island' or Cayo Hueso or Key of Waste. After over 300 years of Spanish rule, the United States Purchased the State of Florida in 1828 and Cayo Hueso became Key West. (2)During the 'Wreaking Days', ships would wreak on the shallows and the reefs around Key West and the locals would sail to these ships and claim everything on the ship before it sank. Key West was the largest and richest city in Florida. The US Government put up light houses and the 'Wreaking Days' came to an end and the city went broke. (3)The discovery of sponges in the waters around Key West started another bonanza and Key West was again a very rich city, but a disease & over harvesting killed the sponge business and the city went broke. (4) The cigar rolling days made a lot of money for Key West. The cigar rollers tried to unionize and the cigar rolling factories moved to Tampa and Key West went broke. (5) Night running shrimp were discovered in Key West waters in the late 1940's and Key West became very rich again. In 20 years the Shrimp were fished out and Key West went broke. (This is about the time Jimmy Buffett came to Key West.) (5) Key West discovered tourism and became a very rich city again. What will happen next? No one knows but it will involve change.

Clint Bullard is back at the Hogs Breath for 10 days.

July 17th: Poker Run

July 17 - 23rd: Mel Fisher days

July 19 - 24th: Hemingway days

July 29 - Aug 07: Summer Food and Wind Festival

Aug 7th: Battle of the Bars

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