TAMPA, Fla. — A lost cemetery on the east side of Tampa is finally being recognized with a historic marker by Hillsborough County’s Historical Advisory Council.
What You Need To Know
- Lost College Hill Cemetery to be recognized with historic marker
- Angela Alderman is behind the mission to memorialize the lost loves ones
- Her great-uncle is buried at the forgotten cemetery now located on East 24th Avenue
- Hillsborough County to host a ceremony Friday at 10 a.m. to unveil the historical marker
Angela Alderman is behind the mission to memorialize her loved one and more than 1,200 people of Cuban and Black descent laid to rest at College Hill Cemetery.
Alderman said she first discovered a photo of her Great-Uncle Florentino Martinez, which opened the door to her family’s history in Tampa.
The Martinez family migrated from Cuba, according to Alderman. She recalls her late grandfather speaking about Florentino.
“He (Florentino) was quite the mystery in our family,” she said. “He was murdered in 1928 in Ybor City.”
Florentino’s murder made headlines at the time. Alderman discovered one of those articles and the photo at Tampa’s Public Library.
“Through him, we found another brother named Francisco Martinez. We call him Frank and he died in 1917,” she said.
Frank’s death certificate, which was signed by his brother Florentino, led Alderman to another unexpected discovery.
Her Great-Uncle Frank is buried at a lost graveyard.
“It says Coll. Hill,” she said, referring to the abbreviated name of College Hill Cemetery on the death certificate. "I was always like, 'What is that? What cemetery is that?'"
Her inquiry launched an investigation into the whereabouts of the cemetery. According to the City of Tampa’s Archives and Records Department, plots belonging to College Hill Cemetery existed on the same land currently owned by the Italian Club Cemetery on East 24th Avenue.
“It’s sad to think they're forgotten and erased,” said Alderman. “I think we can learn from this, so maybe laws can be passed, so this doesn’t happen in the future.”
Alderman didn’t want to stop at finding the lost graves.
“They don’t have headstones,” she said.
She raised money and petitioned for a marker to be placed.
“They were people, they did walk the earth, and they were loved,” she added.
She can now memorialize her great-uncle, as well as others buried beside him.
Hillsborough County is hosting a ceremony to unveil the historical marker Friday at 10 a.m.
Spectrum News reached out to the Italian Club Cemetery for a statement and has yet to receive a response.