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Board hears update on cemetery surveys; FPAN to continue monthly work
Summary
Board members heard that the Florida Public Archaeological Network will continue monthly ground surveys of local cemeteries until most work is finished; volunteers cleaned Sowder and McKendree cemeteries and a VA headstone application was filed for one veteran.
The Clay County Historic Preservation Board received an update on May 7 about ongoing cemetery work, including an ongoing ground survey by the Florida Public Archaeological Network (FPAN) and recent volunteer restoration work.
A committee member said FPAN’s equipment had been down for a time but that the group will continue to visit monthly until most of the cemetery has been surveyed. The member said they hope to have about "75 to 85—80% of it done" by the January presentation to the Clay County Historical Society and that they will present alongside archaeologist Emily Moore.
Staff reported a Keep Clay Beautiful volunteer event on April 20 that cleaned vegetation and completed some stone cleaning at Sowder Cemetery. Volunteers also worked at McKendree Cemetery on April 12 to remove vegetation and perform stone repairs. Staff said FPAN donated restoration supplies and that an application to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs had been submitted to obtain a military headstone for James Keane.
Board members discussed cultural burial practices and cautioned that preservation work should respect a site’s historical and cultural context rather than standardize appearance. The board agreed to continue monitoring survey progress and to bring a fuller report to the Clay County Historical Society next January.
No public comments were recorded during the meeting.
