CLEARWATER, Fla – After five days of excavations, Cardno archaeologists found 25 graves buried in a lot on and across the street from what was Curtis Elementary School in Clearwater.
Heather Leigh
A crucial piece of evidence, “This is the identification plate of Mr. William Ridley who was buried here in 1951,” said Jeff Moates, regional director for the Florida Public Archeology Network.
It proves what many members of the community have been saying for years – the grassy field on the corner of Engman Street and Holt Boulevard still holds the graves and bodies of more than two dozen African-Americans.
Heather Leigh
For Barbara Sorey-Love, it also shows a darker side of history.
“It shows disrespect for African Americans,” she said. “The devaluation of our value and truth always appears. The truth always comes out. ”
Archaeologists have also discovered all sorts of objects that people would normally leave on graves, plus coffin nails and hardware associated with graves.
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“For too long, the community has been left unanswered, and now I get the answers and respects,” Sorey-Love said.
The cemetery operated from 1940 to 1954. Historical documentation shows that there was a relocation process when the school district purchased the land for a swimming pool in the city. The exchange of land was conditioned by the removal of all graves.
“We are clearly learning that this provides an insight into our past and that our past deserves a little more exploration,” said Bill Horn, the city’s director for the city of Clearwater.
“All of these are examples of remnants of structural racism, of how dark lives haven’t mattered in a long time,” Moates said. “What is being said here is that these places belong here, they have to stay here. These places are sacred. “
Archaeologists say they have not found much documentation on the people buried here and hope the community will help develop a clearer picture so that these people can be honored and remembered as they were intended to be.