City of Miami Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The City of Miami Cemetery is a historic cemetery
in Miami
, Florida
, United States
. It is located at 1800 Northeast 2nd Avenue. On January 4, 1989, it was added to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
.
sold a 10 acres (4 ha) "rocky" piece of land to the City of Miami for $750 on June 1897 which became the municipal cemetery. At that time it was located one half mile north of the city limits on a narrow wagon track county road created in 1897, a year after the City of Miami was incorporated by 100 men. African-Americans and black Bahamians made up one-third of the City's incorporators. The first burial, not recorded, was of an elderly black man on July 14, 1897. The first recorded burial of a white man was H. Graham Branscomb, a 24-year-old Englishman on July 20, 1897 from consumption. From its inception, the historic cemetery was subdivided with whites on the east end and the blacks population on the west end.
Blacks provided the primary labor force for building of Miami but were confined by clauses in land deeds to the north west section of Miami now known as Overtown
In 1915, the Beth David congregation began a Jewish section. Two other prominent sections are the circles: the first to Julia Tuttle
, the "Mother of Miami" buried in 1898; the second, a memorial to the Confederate Dead erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Sixty-six Confederate
and twenty-seven Union veterans are buried here. Other sections include a Catholic section, American Legion, Spanish American War, and two military sections along the north and south fence lines. Among the 9,000 burials are pioneer families such as the Burdines
, Peacocks and Dr. James Jackson. This site has the only known five oolitic
(limestone) gravestone worldwide. These and the unique tropical plants make this a tropical oasis.
The Miami city cemetery is one of the few cemeteries where the owners of the plot actually hold a deed to the land where the plot is situated... Approximately 1,000 open plots remain within the City Cemetery but to be buried there the criteria is strict. One must be either the deed holder or able to prove familial relationship to the owner. Friends of the family are not allowed. Currently between 10 and 20 burials occur every year at the City Cemetery.
The City of Miami Cemetery is the oldest cemetery and is the first and only municipal cemetery in Miami-Dade County. The cemetery is the resting place for members of many important pioneer families in the City of Miami. Some of these pioneers are known to us by their history and their gravesites. As a result, the headstone and the classical mausoleums embellish the only site associated with many of these individuals.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at 1800 Northeast 2nd Avenue. On January 4, 1989, it was added to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
In 1897 Mr. William BrickellWilliam Brickell
William Brickell joined Julia Tuttle as a co-founder of Miami, Florida.Brickell and his wife Mary moved to southern Florida from Cleveland, Ohio in 1871...
sold a 10 acres (4 ha) "rocky" piece of land to the City of Miami for $750 on June 1897 which became the municipal cemetery. At that time it was located one half mile north of the city limits on a narrow wagon track county road created in 1897, a year after the City of Miami was incorporated by 100 men. African-Americans and black Bahamians made up one-third of the City's incorporators. The first burial, not recorded, was of an elderly black man on July 14, 1897. The first recorded burial of a white man was H. Graham Branscomb, a 24-year-old Englishman on July 20, 1897 from consumption. From its inception, the historic cemetery was subdivided with whites on the east end and the blacks population on the west end.
Blacks provided the primary labor force for building of Miami but were confined by clauses in land deeds to the north west section of Miami now known as Overtown
Overtown
Overtown is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States, just northwest of Downtown Miami. Originally called Colored Town during the Jim Crow era of the late 19th through the mid-20th century, the area was once the preeminent and is the historic center for commerce in the black American...
In 1915, the Beth David congregation began a Jewish section. Two other prominent sections are the circles: the first to Julia Tuttle
Julia Tuttle
Julia DeForest Tuttle, was an entrepreneur, citrus farmer and businesswoman who was largely responsible for, and the original owner of, the land upon which Miami, Florida, was built...
, the "Mother of Miami" buried in 1898; the second, a memorial to the Confederate Dead erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Sixty-six Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and twenty-seven Union veterans are buried here. Other sections include a Catholic section, American Legion, Spanish American War, and two military sections along the north and south fence lines. Among the 9,000 burials are pioneer families such as the Burdines
Burdines
Burdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
, Peacocks and Dr. James Jackson. This site has the only known five oolitic
Oolitic
Oolitic may refer to:* Oolite, a sedimentary rock consisting of ooids* Oolitic, Indiana, a town whose name came from the underlying limestone...
(limestone) gravestone worldwide. These and the unique tropical plants make this a tropical oasis.
The Miami city cemetery is one of the few cemeteries where the owners of the plot actually hold a deed to the land where the plot is situated... Approximately 1,000 open plots remain within the City Cemetery but to be buried there the criteria is strict. One must be either the deed holder or able to prove familial relationship to the owner. Friends of the family are not allowed. Currently between 10 and 20 burials occur every year at the City Cemetery.
The City of Miami Cemetery is the oldest cemetery and is the first and only municipal cemetery in Miami-Dade County. The cemetery is the resting place for members of many important pioneer families in the City of Miami. Some of these pioneers are known to us by their history and their gravesites. As a result, the headstone and the classical mausoleums embellish the only site associated with many of these individuals.
Notable Burials
- Julia TuttleJulia TuttleJulia DeForest Tuttle, was an entrepreneur, citrus farmer and businesswoman who was largely responsible for, and the original owner of, the land upon which Miami, Florida, was built...
(1848–1898) - The "Mother of Miami." - William M. BurdineBurdinesBurdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
- The founder of BurdinesBurdinesBurdines was a leading department store chain in the state of Florida. The first Burdines store was opened in Bartow, Florida in 1896., Burdines became part of Federated Department Stores, Inc in 1956...
. - John SewellJohn Sewell (Miami)John Sewell was the third Mayor of Miami.John Sewell was born in 1867 in Elbert County, Georgia, and moved with his parents to Florida when he was 19 years old...
(1867–1938) - third Mayor of the City of MiamiMiami, FloridaMiami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. - Dr. James JacksonDr. James M. Jackson OfficeThe Dr. James Madison Jackson Office is a historic site in Miami, Florida. It is located at 190 Southeast 12th Terrace. The first resident physician of Miami, Dr. James M. Jackson, had his office and surgery in this building. More recently, it became the offices of the Dade Heritage Trust. On...
- The first resident physician of Miami. - Samuel Jones - City of Miami incorporator
See also
- Downtown Miami Historic DistrictDowntown Miami Historic DistrictThe Downtown Miami Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in Downtown Miami, Florida. The district is bounded by Miami Court, North Third Street, West Third Avenue, and South Second Street. It contains 60 historic buildings...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Miami, FloridaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Miami, FloridaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Miami, Florida.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Miami, Florida, United States...