CLEARWATER, Fla. — A historical marker is now placed for an African American cemetery that was lost until recently.

What You Need To Know

  • Historical marker placed for the North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery

  • It’s on the corner of Holt Avenue and Engman Street in Clearwater

  • Archaeologists discovered at least 55 African American graves there two years ago

The marker is for the North Greenwood African American Memorial Cemetery on the corner of Holt Avenue and Engman Street in Clearwater.

Archaeologists discovered at least 55 graves there two years ago.

The land is owned by Pinellas County Schools. It will now be marked as a cemetery.

Descendants of those buried there helped unveil the new sign on Saturday.

“This is a change,” said Lois Saylor Bell, who says her grandmother is buried at the site. “For years, nobody knew and kept it secret. But now the change has happened. This marker is here. That’s a marker of change.”

The marker was sponsored by the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board. It describes a land swap that was made by the city of Clearwater in the 1950s that somehow left graves forgotten there until recently.

“It’s the most important thing that’s happened to African Americans in Clearwater in 50 years,” said Barbara Jsorey-Love, chairperson of the Clearwater African Memorial Committee. “We’re recognizing the deceased and descendants who have not been properly recognized.”