Cemetery Book Project
The impetus for this project occurred in 1981 when Society members recognized the need for genealogical research publications related to the cemeteries in Polk County. There was a time lapse on the project until a small group of dedicated members accepted the challenge and began to donate the countless hours and financial support required to make the project a reality. Using The Cracker Tracker’s List of Cemeteries and Burial Sites in Polk County, Florida, by Odell Robinson, and lists of cemeteries prepared by the Committee, the initial scope of the project and the potential burial sites to be included in each volume were determined. Ms. Hazel Bowman completed the histories in the first six volumes. Based on experience, there have been adjustments causing the initial six volumes to become nine and thus extending the time estimated for completion of the project.
Polk County is larger than the state of Rhode Island. The area to be covered, combined with the number of burial sites involved, posed a serious challenge to those doing the onsite work. A decision was made to divide the County into geographical sections (see the map). Earlier volumes required the most travel and took the longest time to complete. The first volume was published in 2001. Since that time four more volumes have been published with the sixth due out in the summer of this year. The final three volumes, located in the Lakeland area, will take time less time to complete.
A grant to the Society from the Polk County Historical Commission makes it possible to give each of the fourteen public libraries in the County a copy of the volumes(s) for the geographical area of the library. In addition, the Society sends a copy of each volume to the Family History Library and the Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library.
The Society has produced a CD for each of the first four volumes and one that combines all four volumes. Volumes I through III are out of print. A limited number of Volume IV is still available. When future volumes are out of print and no longer available, a CD of those volumes will be provided as an alternate resource. The order form on the site may be used to purchase the CDs.
The status of each volume with the communities it covers is provided for those interested in doing cemetery oriented research in Polk County;
(Out of print/CD available) Volume I: Bartow, Bradley Junction, Chicora-Brewster, Fort Meade-Brewster, Homeland (west), Keysville, Nichols, Polk/Hardee
(Out of print/CD available) Volume II: Bartow (east), Bereah, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Homeland, Lake Wales
(Out of print/CD available) Volume III: Bartow (northwest), Fuller Heights, Lakeland (south/west), Medulla. Mulberry, Willow Oak
(Limited number available/CD available) Volume IV: Connorsville, Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Gordonville, Haines City, Lake Wales, Loughman, Wahneta, (Oceola Cty: Oak Hill)
(Limited number available) Volume V: Auburndale, Lake Alfred
Volume VI: Winter Haven (In final edit)
Volume VII: Lakeland North, Polk City (Initial survey completed)
Volume VIII: Greater Lakeland
Volume IX: Oak Hill burial Park
The following list of burial sites included in each volume is provided to assist those doing genealogical research in Polk County:
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume I
Bartow: Oak Hill, Wildwood
Bartow (south) Shady Oaks
Bradley Junction: Mt. Olive, Philippi (see Shady Oaks)
Chicora - Brewster: Altman/Chicora
Fort Meade–Brewster: Hancock, New Hope/Mt Pleasant, Old Elim, Pellhum/Pelham
Fort Meade (south): Morrison.
Homeland (west): Crum Durrance
Homeland (southwest): Davis/Homeland Colored
Keysville: Beulah Baptist
Nichols (east): Blue Jay, Byrd Branch
Polk-Hardee (in Polk County): Bowling Green Colored
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries – Volume II
Bartow (east): Hardy Fortner/ Peace River Primitive Baptist, Lake Garfield
Bereah: Corinth
Fort Meade: Evergreen, Monument Park
Fort Meade (east) Lake Buffum, Mt. Zion
Fort Meade (south) Galilee/ F.D. Robeson, Mt. Pisgah
Frostproof
Biscuit Lake/Little Biscuit, Carson, Silver Hill, St. Mary’s
Frostproof (west) Eden/Little Eden Midland, Nelson Still
Homeland: Bethel/ Methodist, Episcopal (Includes reburial of Wallace Family from site
on Homeland-Alturas that was mined.)
Lake Wales: Lake Wales/Pleasant Gardens
Lake Wales (southeast): Nalaca
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume III
Bartow (north west): Palm Evergreen/Hewing
Fuller Heights: Fuller Heights/Laurel Hill/Bone Valley
Lakeland (south): Lakeland Memorial Gardens, Lake Seward
Lakeland (west): Springhead
Medulla: Fitzgerald, Hamilton, Medulla
Mulberry: Alfred W. Lunn, Bonnie Lake, Greenwood/Timber lake
Willow Oak: Willow Oak
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume IV
Bok Tower: Bok Tower
Connorsville: Gandy/Connorsville
Davenport: Dundee, Evergreen, Jamestown
Dundee: Dundee
Eagle Lake: Eagle Lake
Gordonville: Gordonville,
Haines City: Forest Hill, Oakland Baptist, On the Hill
Lake Wales: Whidden/Enterprise/Sick Island, Willow Lawn
Loughmn: Loughman
Wahneta
(Osceola County): Oak Hill
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume V
Auburndale: Auburndale (old), Auburndale Memorial Gardens, Lincoln Park
Carter’s Corner: Gambler’s Rest
Kossuthville (K-ville): Glen Abbey Memorial Park
Lake Alfred: Lake Lowery, Oak Grove
Winter Haven: Chris Brown, Inman Park, Lake Maude, Lakeside Memorial Park,
Oaklawn, Rolling Hills
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume VI
Winter Haven: Chris Brown, Inman Park, Lake Maude, Lakeside Memorial Park, Oaklawn, Rolling Hill
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume VII
Lakeland North: Carpenter's Home, Galloway/Griffin/Sleepy Hill, Green Pond, Little Flock, Mount Olive Baptist, New Home/Winston, New Plat, Serenity Gardens, Sleepy Hill, Socrum/Bethel
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume VIII
Lakeland: Gapway, Lake View, Laurel Hill, Morehead/Stephenson, Roselawn,
Temple Emanuel, Tiger Flowers
Polk County, Florida, Cemeteries -- Volume IX: Oak Hill Burial ParkThose wishing to preorder a future publication may contact:
Kay Stone:
KAYSTONE@prodigy.net
Ken Davis:
IPGSKED@aol.com
Those wishing to preorder a future publication may contact:
Kay Stone: KAYSTONE@prodigy.net
Ken Davis: IPGSKED@aol.com