Cemetery a Day In May: Palms Cemetery
Cemetery Log Date: May 27, 2014
Early pioneers along the Treasure Coast of Florida.
Palms Cemetery in Ankona, near Fort Pierce is a small early settler cemetery that is still in use. Ankona is one of the few small towns that have persisted from the late 19th century in this area of St. Lucie County. This area is about seven miles south of Fort Pierce and was first purchased by Dr. John Fletcher Ankeny for real estate development. In 1883 the postal service in the area declined the wishes of the Ankeny family to name the area in their name as an Ankeny, Ohio existed. Ankona became a compromise and in 1886 the second post office in what is present-day St. Lucie County opened. By 1896 the community met county specifications for a school which was built near the McCarty Plantation. Still, by 1935 only 14 families called the community home and it remains a small community along Indian River Drive today. The cemetery has served the community from 1893 to the present day. Many early families have plots here and one notable Floridian is interred at the cemetery; Daniel T. McCarty served as the youngest Speaker of the House in Florida's history from 1939 until he entered the U.S. Army in 1941. McCarty later won the race for Florida state governor in 1952 and assumed duties in 1953 as the state's 31st governor, the first man from South Florida to win the office. Sadly, in late February of 1953 Governor McCarty suffered a debilitating heart attack and later died after a lengthy recuperation as he was preparing to return to office.
Who: Ankona Cemetery Association.
What: Early Treasure Coast community cemetery.
Where: 7201 South Indian River Drive, Ankona
When: Open daily, from dawn to dusk
Why:
2013 #CaDiM posts
Intro, May 1: National, May 2: Oakdale, May 3: Murphy's Creek, May 4: Mt. Olive, May 5: Bosque Bello, May 6: Old City, May 7: Espanola, May 8: Tolomato, May 9: Pacetti, May 10: West View, May 11: Magnolia Springs, May 12: St. Peter's, May 13: Gravely Hill, May 14: Pilgrim's Rest, May 15: God's Little Acre, May 16: Dummet's Grave, May 17: No Name, May 18: St. Monica, May 19: St. Joseph's, May 20: Old St. Joseph's (Duval), May 21: Sampson, May 22: Fernandez Reserve, May 23: St. Ambrose, May 24: Sons of Israel, May 25: Sanksville, May 26: Huguenot, May 27: Nombre de Dios, May 28: Beresford, May 29: Jones, May 30: San Sebastian/Pinehurst, May 31: Oaklynn
Early pioneers along the Treasure Coast of Florida.
Palms Cemetery in Ankona, near Fort Pierce is a small early settler cemetery that is still in use. Ankona is one of the few small towns that have persisted from the late 19th century in this area of St. Lucie County. This area is about seven miles south of Fort Pierce and was first purchased by Dr. John Fletcher Ankeny for real estate development. In 1883 the postal service in the area declined the wishes of the Ankeny family to name the area in their name as an Ankeny, Ohio existed. Ankona became a compromise and in 1886 the second post office in what is present-day St. Lucie County opened. By 1896 the community met county specifications for a school which was built near the McCarty Plantation. Still, by 1935 only 14 families called the community home and it remains a small community along Indian River Drive today. The cemetery has served the community from 1893 to the present day. Many early families have plots here and one notable Floridian is interred at the cemetery; Daniel T. McCarty served as the youngest Speaker of the House in Florida's history from 1939 until he entered the U.S. Army in 1941. McCarty later won the race for Florida state governor in 1952 and assumed duties in 1953 as the state's 31st governor, the first man from South Florida to win the office. Sadly, in late February of 1953 Governor McCarty suffered a debilitating heart attack and later died after a lengthy recuperation as he was preparing to return to office.
Who: Ankona Cemetery Association.
What: Early Treasure Coast community cemetery.
Where: 7201 South Indian River Drive, Ankona
When: Open daily, from dawn to dusk
Why:
- Late 19th century early settler cemetery still in use by descendant population.
- Mix of markers and styles dating back over a century.
- Final resting place of Florida's 31st Governor.
More Info:
Text: Kevin Gidusko
Images: Patrisha Meyers
2014 #CaDiM posts
Intro, May 1: Hilliard Community, May 2: Kingsley slave era cemetery, May 3: San Lorenzo , May 4: St. Mary's, May 5: Hibernia Cemetery, May 6: Oaklynn Update, May 7: Norwalk, May 8: Houston Pioneer, May 9: Greenwood, May 10: Geneva ,May 11: Rose Hill, May 12:Garden of Heavenly Rest, May 13: Port Mayaca, May 14: Key West, May 15: Felsmere Brookside May 16: Albritton May 17: May 18: Flagler Family May 19: Masonic May 20: Gethsemane; May 21: Magnolia Springs. May 22: African Refugee
2013 #CaDiM posts
Intro, May 1: National, May 2: Oakdale, May 3: Murphy's Creek, May 4: Mt. Olive, May 5: Bosque Bello, May 6: Old City, May 7: Espanola, May 8: Tolomato, May 9: Pacetti, May 10: West View, May 11: Magnolia Springs, May 12: St. Peter's, May 13: Gravely Hill, May 14: Pilgrim's Rest, May 15: God's Little Acre, May 16: Dummet's Grave, May 17: No Name, May 18: St. Monica, May 19: St. Joseph's, May 20: Old St. Joseph's (Duval), May 21: Sampson, May 22: Fernandez Reserve, May 23: St. Ambrose, May 24: Sons of Israel, May 25: Sanksville, May 26: Huguenot, May 27: Nombre de Dios, May 28: Beresford, May 29: Jones, May 30: San Sebastian/Pinehurst, May 31: Oaklynn