Cemetery Log Date: May 24, 2014
Historic community cemetery that hasn't changed much over the last century and a half.
Fort Christmas Cemetery has served the tiny community (only about 1,200 folks call this town home) of Fort Christmas, Florida since 1867. The town is named after a fort constructed nearby during the Second Seminole War in 1837 on Christmas Day. The fort no longer stands, but just down the road from the cemetery the
Fort Christmas Historical Park boasts, among many other great attractions, a reconstruction of the original fort. Inside the fort a museum interpreting the era of the Seminole Wars and early settler history is open most days of the week and well worth the visit. The Fort Christmas Cemetery is still in use by the community and lovingly cared for. Many notable pioneers and their families are buried here as is the sculptor
Hughlette "Tex" Wheeler. Tex Wheeler was a local of Christmas and is known for many notable works, including depictions of the racehorse Seabiscuit and a well-known sculpture of Will Rogers. Though much of Orange County went through a period of heavy urbanization after WWII and especially with the coming of Disney, Fort Christmas has not grown much beyond a small hamlet situated in the pinewoods and cattle pastures of this area in Florida.
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| The community keeps a close watch on the cemetery. |
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| Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 2120 holds an annual Confederate Memorial Day tribute here. |
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Touching headstone of a young woman, front...
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| and on the back, a bit of her poetry. |
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| True fan. |
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| Well-cared for historic Fort Christmas Cemetery |
Who: Christmas Cemetery Association, Inc. manages the cemetery.
What: Late 19th century pioneer to present rural cemetery.
Where: 23644 Christmas Cemetery Road, Christmas, 32709
When: Dawn to Dusk
Why:
- Early pioneer cemetery still in use.
- Tex Wheeler's final resting place.
- Excellent array of markers from late 19th century to present.
- Nearby Fort Christmas Historical Park.
- Very well cared for.
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| Tex Wheeler statue of Will Rogers |
Text and images: Kevin Gidusko
Except pic of Wheeler's Will Rogers, found
here.
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 Cemetery, May 20: Gethsemane, May 21: Magnolia Springs
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
