$2 Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal VOL. 20 NO. 3 SPRING 2010 USS SHARK OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY Monroe County By Tom Hambright Copyright 2010 Monroe County, the sixth county in Florida, was established by an act of the territorial legislature on July 2, 1823. It was signed by Governor William P. Duval on July 3, 1823. The county was named for President James Monroe. The original boundaries of the county included the southern part of Florida and were described as “all that land lying south of a line commencing at Boca Gasparilla River on the Gulf of Mexico and extending up to the northern margin of Charlotte Harbor to the north of Charlotte River; thence up the northern margin of that river to Lake Macaco (as Lake Okeechobee The Seal of Monroe County. Photo credit: Monroe County Library. was then named); thence along the northern margin of that lake A county courthouse was erected to Lake Okeechobee,” thus cutting to its most eastern limits; thence at Jackson Square in Key West off from Monroe County all the in a direct line to the headwaters before the city was surveyed. By Keys to the east and north of Bahia of the Potomas river; thence down 1830, the population had grown Honda and all the eastern portions that river to its entrance into the to 517 persons, almost all living of southern mainland Florida. ocean, together with all the Keys in Key West. The main industries On October 11, 1846, a major and islands of the Cape of Florida.” were salvaging shipwrecks on the hurricane struck Key West. The Other counties formed from the reef and catching live fish for the storm damaged or destroyed every original boundaries are: Dade, Havana market. building in town and smashed the Broward, Collier, Lee, Henry and In February 1836, Dade County stone lighthouses at Key West and parts of Charlotte, Glades, and Palm was established with Indian Key as Sand Key. The city was able to Beach. county seat. The southern boundary rapidly rebuild because of a strong The City of Key West, which “commenced at the western end of economy created by the wrecking had been named county seat, was Bahia Honda and ran in a direct line industry. incorporated on January 8, 1828. to Cape Sable; thence in a direct line (Continued on page 12) SOCIETY NEWS AND NOTES by John Viele The Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal is published quarterly. Subscription is available through Western Union lecture in February. Photo credit: Ed Little. membership. Copyright 2010 by the Key West Maritime Historical In January, Admiral Sir Edward schooner Hindu. Captain Foley Society of the Florida Keys, Inc. Vernon, British Navy, (portrayed related how he found Hindu rotting The art on the masthead, the USS by Randy McDonald) presented the away in a boatyard in Fairhaven, Shark, was drawn by Bill Muir. history of naval rum complete with Mass. and how he restored her, with samples of grog as issued to British help from friends, over a two-year Editor: Tom Hambright sailors. The talk was so popular that period, while subsisting on peanut- a few latecomers had to be turned butter sandwiches. He also told away because the auditorium was of some of his experiences sailing Letters and articles are welcome. full. her and other schooners he has Please write to: Editor, Florida Keys In February, Leon Poindexter, captained. Sea Heritage Journal, KWMHS, P.O. master shipwright in charge of Box 695, Key West, FL 33041. reconstructing the Key West Change in Mailing Procedures Key West Maritime schooner Western Union, told Because of difficulties in using Historical Society about the process of identifying, bulk mail, in the future, flyers will Board of Directors removing, and replacing the be sent by first-class mail, only decayed frames and planking. His to members residing in the Keys. President: Edward J.Little,Jr. presentation included photos of The quarterly Sea Heritage Journal Vice President: Bill Verge the various steps in the restoration will continue to be mailed to all Secretary: Corey Malcom work and samples of the many members. Treasurer: Tom Hambright different woodworking tools used. Notice of upcoming lectures, Once again, there was a full house. field trips, and other events will be Andrea Comstock Our guest speaker in March was published on the Society’s website: George Craig Captain Kevin Foley, master of the www.kywestmaritime.org. Bill Grosscup Tom Hambright Mary Haffenreffer New Member John Jones Sheri Lohr Valarie Chelley, Key West; Robert Hartman, Key West; Bob & Hazel Don Lowe Cook, Harvey’s Lake, PA; Ron Hoas, Key West; Laura Lynne Louis Maglio & Mary Demes, Sugarloaf Key; Kennedy, Islamorada; Tom Milone, Julie McEnroe Lawrence Douglas, Key West; Rick Key West; Patrick & Rosi Raher, Bill Verge Finnin, Key West; Deb Forese, Washington, DC. Mark Reinnoldt, John Viele Washington, CT; Christine Geary, Key West; Patrict Tiffany, Key Key West; Michael D. Green, West; Curtis J. Tindel, Tecumseh, Chapel Hill, NC; Ed & Carol MO; Reif & Diana Udo, Key West; Haggett, New Bern, NC; Cliff Kurt Vess, Tampa. 2 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - SPRING 2010 The Northwest Channel Jetties By J. Gregory Griffin Copyright 2010 Over one hundred years ago, a private contractor to the United States Government built two rock jetties, one on each side of a section of the Northwest Channel, to protect it from shallowing due to silt deposits caused by four daily tidal movements. The strategic objective was to create a shorter, safer trade route between the product rich ports in the Gulf of Mexico, and the prosperous populations of the Atlantic seaboard. A newspaper of the period chronicled this motivation, and provided anecdotal information concerning the actual day-to-day local construction activities. At the Federal level, the Army Engineers’ reports to the Secretary of War Chart showing the Northwest Channel Jetties. Photo credit: Monroe County and Congress provided progress Library. information, a justification for funding, and requests for further between the Gulf Coast and the the island of Key West was by ship, appropriations as the initiative was Atlantic Ocean. A deep passageway the port also provided a safe haven of national importance. would shorten the distance from for vessels heading north to trade. On June 29,1891, Mr. George one to the other, and it would U.S. Government Contracts W. Allen, vice president presiding, bring trade to Key West. Without for Local Limestone convened a very important meeting a navigable channel, large steam In a very early attempt to control of the Board of Trade of Key West ships and schooners from Tampa, the tidal current in the channel, principally for the purpose of Tallahassee, New Orleans, and Captain Ross used local stone which appointing a committee to collect Mobile would need to sail around was actually limestone (oolite) from statistics relative to the commercial the shallows of Rebecca Shoal to the nearby Keys. Under the terms of importance of the Northwest Channel enter the Port of Key West through this June 1891 contract, workmen (N24-38’ 80”; W81-53’ 91”). The the Main Ship Channel adding brought equipment and personnel committee developed information about 160 miles to the journey. to Man Key to quarry the limestone. for the use of Captain Black of Their destinations would be the The laborers processed two thousand the United States Engineering rich markets along the East Coast tons in all. However, someone Department who would present the of the United States- Charleston, informed Mr. G. B. Patterson, the data to the next Congress when Philadelphia, Baltimore, New local District Attorney, of this and larger appropriations for deepening York, and Boston. Key West would he notified Captain Ross that the the Channel will be sought. With economically benefit from this island belonged to the United States this data Captain Black will better shortened trade route as Henry Government and was intended represent the matter to Congress, Flagler’s Florida East Coast for military purposes, and none and facilitate the passage of further Railway extension to Key West, the of that soft sandstone was carried appropriations. The gathering heard Florida Overseas Railroad, would away. Subsequently, Captain Ross testimony as to the importance of not be completed until 1912. In the Northwest Channel to shipping those days, the only way to access (Continued on page 4) SPRING 2010 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - 3 (Jetties from page 3) made on Captain Ross’s property rock quarry in a small boat sailing on Boca Chica, preparatory to for Key West. When the boat left moved his equipment to Sawyer beginning the contract for placing she was so crowded that two of the Key which was considered to be native stone on the north jetty. men in it became alarmed and got State land and had permission from Work began under the contract out, but two others took their place. the State of Florida Commissioner on December 1, 1897. On June 2, These men were in the employ of of Agriculture, Mr. Wombwell, 1898, work was suspended by the Captain Ross digging coral rock to quarry what rock he may authority of the Secretary of War, for the Northwest jetties. The need. However, it turned out that at the request of the contractor, laborers usually came to Key West Sawyer Key was not vacant land, during the hostilities with Spain in on Saturday nights for recreation. but, once again, belongs to the the Spanish-American War. Work A heavy wind was blowing at United States Government. As a resumed on October 6, 1898. To the time of their leaving, and, not consequence, Captain Ross had this day, the rusted remains of the knowing how to maneuver a boat, to move his plant a second time.