A GPR search found 19 anomalies under Jasmine Avenue between Rose and Cycadia cemeteries in Tarpon Springs. Archaeologists believe at least three are graves.

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A ground-penetrating radar search found grave-like anomalies under a road between two segregation-era cemeteries in Tarpon Springs as a group works to preserve the history of Rose Cemetery, the oldest Black cemetery in Pinellas County. 

“We’re doing the best we can to make sure that doing our tenure, that we keep moving forward with enhancing this cemetery, finding unmarked graves, trying to get the GPR done, where we can find who’s really out here,” Katie Taylor said.

Taylor, who serves as president of the Rose Cemetery Association, has been working for years to preserve the history of the historic site in Tarpon Springs. 

Over time, the cemetery has struggled to keep clear records of who’s buried where. 

“We’re trying to re-gather all the old information and reissue certificates to make sure that families know exactly where their spaces are and how many they have open. That’s why you see some of the yellow caution tapes around. If a family bought eight spaces and they only use two, then we’re marking off the other four for the family,” she said. “Once we find that that family, the perpetual care team checked the space, make sure there’s nobody in there by checking four feet down.”

Yet outside of the cemetery gates, there is a problem of a different kind. 

“We’ve found that graves were outside the fence line on the south side of the graveyard. And with that, we reported it to the city of Tarpon Springs.”

10 Investigates reviewed records that show the city of Tarpon Springs hired archaeologists for a ground-penetrating radar survey. It confirmed about 19 anomalies outside of the fence and under the road along Jasmine Avenue, which divides Rose Cemetery from Cycadia Cemetery across the street. Archaeologists believe at least three of the anomalies are graves. Historical research suggests those graves could be a spillover of burials from Cycadia.

“It’s a common occurrence throughout Florida and throughout the United States that there would often be segregated cemetery situations, and those two cemeteries would often be very close together,” said Maranda Kles, vice president of Archaeological Consultants Inc. “And so, there is often possibly overlap between the cemeteries or potentially graves that are outside of either of the cemeteries.”

There was also at least one visible grave marker outside the gate of the cemetery. 

“That’s like family outside the outside the gates. You got to go get them. You got to,” Taylor said. “You got to bring them in the fold because they’re part of this cemetery. And it’s sad that all these years they’ve been outside, nobody’s been caring for them.”

Records show the city of Tarpon Springs is now giving Rose Cemetery a 12-foot easement and fence to help include those excluded from the cemetery’s boundaries. 

Established in 1904, Rose Cemetery is the oldest African American cemetery in Pinellas County that’s still all in one piece. Most of the others have been destroyed by development.

From the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery now under the FrankCrum human resources firm in Clearwater, where archaeologists found more than 300 graves, to the North Greenwood cemetery 10 Investigates helped uncover at the old Curtis Fundamental School a few miles away, many Black cemeteries have been erased. 

It’s a driving force behind the community’s commitment to caring for Rose Cemetery, a place that holds the souls of local leaders, veterans and Black spongers who helped establish the industry the city is known for. 

“Ultimately, those graves are people. They are someone’s loved ones, and so we definitely don’t want to forget that, and we don’t want to disrespect that,” Kles said. “So, understanding this history helps us look at other cemeteries and, and find possibly lost graves and lost loved ones to help us remember the past, and who we are, and where we’ve been and where we’re going.”

Emerald Morrow is an investigative reporter with 10 Tampa Bay News. Like her on Facebook. You can also email her at emorrow@10tampabay.com.