Cemetery a Day in May: Murphy's Creek Headstone
Cemetery Log Date: May 2, 2013
Murphy's Creek headstone is located in a wooded area along Murphy's Creek in Putnam County. The St. Johns River Water Management District called us to come take a look at
possible cemetery sites and get them recorded on the state's master
site file. This headstone is certainly unique. It looks like an architectural feature (an arched brick windowsill) that was filled in with cement. The other flat cement slab had us confused because it is so short. Is it marking a human burial? Could it be for a pet? Does it serve some other purpose?
Difficult to get to as its on SJRWMD land, but we'd like to make the point that a headstone does a cemetery make. The stone does not appear to be 75 years or older, but we went ahead and listed it to afford it future protection (welcome to the world site 8Pu1626!). If a headstone or cemetery is listed on the state's site file, then future undertakings on public land or using state/federal money have to consider potential impacts to this cultural resource. If you see a cemetery or even a headstone in the woods, it's worth listing. Think of Florida during fire season- it's good to know where cultural resources are, especially when fire break lines are placed.
Who: Managed by St. Johns River Water Management District
Why:
What: Isolated headstone in heavily wooded area
Where: Murphy's Creek Conservation Area in Putnam County
Where: Murphy's Creek Conservation Area in Putnam County
- May not be able to visit this select stone, but let us know if you see other isolated markers in the woods! They need protection too.
- Good example of vernacular architecture feature reused as a headstone
- Archaeologists don't know everything (not even close) and in many ways this stone represents more the kind of issues we get called in for to assist local government.
- Was the 1,626th historic resource recorded in Putnam County, hence the site number 8Pu1626
For more information:
Text & Image: Sarah Miller, FPAN staff.
For previous posts search: Cemetery a Day in May or #CaDiM
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
For previous posts search: Cemetery a Day in May or #CaDiM
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