Time to Repeat History?

The railroad right-of-way was converted to a vehicular highway after the 1935 hurricane destroyed 40 miles of track. A $3.6 million bond issue was repaid with two tollbooths. The tollbooth shown at right was at mile marker 32.7 on Big Pine Key about a quarter of a mile south of the Spanish Harbor Bridge. It was as far north as possible so the Key West property owners on Big Pine Keys would not have to pay the toll.

The toll was $1 (this was still in the Great Depression and with inflation would be about $14 today) and 25 cents for each passenger other than the driver. In 1953, Monroe County residents were issued a free toll pass (windshield decal) and the tolls lifted on April 15, 1954. Today the tollbooth would have been located about where the Key Deer underpass is.

Maybe it is time to Repeat History.