Dozens of potential burial sites found during restoration of Groveland’s original Black cemetery

GROVELAND, Fla. — A new map shows where ground penetrating technology detected clues showing at least 229 disturbances consistent with burials at what was once the only cemetery for Black people in Groveland.

The project has been decades in the making, and the second phase of restoration is about to start.

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The Black people buried there came to Groveland at the turn of the century from Southern states to work the orange groves and in the sawmill and turpentine industries.

When they died, the cemetery was the only burial option for them, including Samuel Griffin’s uncle, an Army corporal who fought in World War I.

Read: Groveland works to restore the community’s original Black cemetery

“Very, very few people even know this cemetery is here,” Griffin said. “And all the old people that used to know about this cemetery they’re gone, they passed on.”

But there is now work to make sure they’re not forgotten. Archeologists spent two days running ground penetrating equipment over the soil searching for signs of where bodies may have been buried.

Before the archeologists started their work, volunteers spent every Friday clearing the land of overgrown trees and debris from vandals that piled up for decades.

WATCH: “Groveland 4: Journey to Exoneration”

At least three previous attempts to clean up the site failed to generate enough funding to get the work done. And before that, fear kept Black people from even visiting their loved ones there.

“You know, you could be beaten, hurt or killed,” Griffin said.

The city’s fire chief and human resources director are leading a project to restore the acre of land, which is now surrounded by residential development.

Read: Family marks century owning Eatonville land that served as sanctuary for Black families

The state has committed half a million dollars to clean up the land that’ll be known as the Oak Tree Union Colored Cemetery of Taylorville, which is what this area was called before it became Groveland.

When the work is finished, the hope is that the cemetery shines a light on the significance of the people buried there for children in the community and even lifelong residents.

Video: Groveland works to restore the community’s original Black cemetery The old cemetery was the only place Black people could be buried for decades when they migrated to the area that was then called Taylorville. (Daralene Jones, WFTV.com)

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