Welcome to the Historic Cemetery of Key West Arcturus Friday, June 21, 2013
Cemetery History • 1847 Established – 4 Acre purchase – Windsor Lane and Passover Lane
• 1861 Catholic Plot • 1925 Expanded by FL – 19 Acres – 15 Acres usuable
Cemetery History contd. • 1930 – 1970’s deteriorate • 1976 Declared Health Hazard by State – Broken tombs – Vandalism – Vegetation – Litter – Social and Fiscal resolve
Cemetery History contd. • 1996 Key West City Cemetery Preservation Plan. Center for Historic Cemeteries Preservation, Tallahassee. • 2002 City of Key West Cemetery Master Plan • 2008 Cemetery Restoration Grant from state – Univ. West Florida – Contractors/Volunteers – Seabees
Cemetery Layout • Click to edit Master text styles – Second level – Third level • Fourth level – Fifth level
Burials Number of Recorded Burials Original Cemetery Recorded Burials by Section Original Cemetery 1400
1400
1200
1200
1000
1000
800
800
600
600
400
400
200
200
0
0 1794-1849
1850-1900
1901-1950
1951-1999
Catholic
Section A
Section B
Section C Section Tri/D
Box Tombs Side by Side w/ Gable peak
Stacked Box
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Cradle Tombs Cradle filled with dirt grass
Cradle with Head and Foot
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Low Tombs Broken Low w/ Gable
Restored
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Marker Tombs Obelisks the most popular. What is the cap called?
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Statuary Tombs Most cherished yet subject to vandals and erosion
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Vault Tombs Gothic revival
Brick crypt with gable roof
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Concerns
• Preserve the historical value of the cemetery • Establish guidelines for future burials • Keep the cemetery open as a living feature of Key West for residents and visitors.
Conclusion • “I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: ''Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.'' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have.” - Harry S Truman. • http://www.historicfloridakeys.org/historicflo ridakeys/Key_West_Cemetery_files/Cemetery -Map.jpg