Guide to the Marti Colon cemetery collection, 1887-2000 Descriptive Summary Title : Marti Colon cemetery collection Creator: Echezabal, Henry Dates : 1887-2000 ID Number : C33 Size: 1.00 box and 1.00 large binder. Abstract: Henry A. Echezabal's keen interest in The Marti Colon Cemetery resulted in this collection of research materials compiled from 1997 to 2012. From the records of the earliest burials in the 1880s, to the local news investigative report of 2000, the collection covers several different incidents and offers clues as to how the cemetery ended up embroiled in controversy over the issue of missing bodies and buryovers, covering news stories, City of Tampa records, and correspondence that shed light on the issues. The Marti Colon Cemetery found itself the center of controversy several times over the issues of multiple burials, missing bodies, neglect, and vandalism. Most of the controversy surrounds the construction of Columbus Drive, where it is suspected that several of the bodies buried that were supposed to be removed, in fact only had headstones relocated. Columbus Drive separated the cemetery in two, and the section to the north of the road was left in disrepair. A. P. Boza took lease of the cemetery in 1939, but also mismanaged the cemetery, compounding its problems. Upon Boza's death, his son refused to take up the maintenance of the cemetery, and by the late 1980s, articles began to surface concerning vandalism and grave robbing. The cemetery went unclaimed, and was eventually taken over by the City, which restored it. In 2000, an investigative report showed the extent of the mismanagement of the cemetery over time, that a large amount of the information on burials was inaccurate, perhaps as much as 1/3rd to 2/3rds of the graves inaccurately marked. Language(s): English Repository: Administrative Summary Special & Digital Collections University of South Florida Tampa Library 4202 East Fowler Ave., LIB122 Tampa, Florida 33620 Phone: 813-974-2731 - Fax: 813-396-9006 Email Special & Digital Collections Provenance: Echezabal, Henry Acquisition Donation Information: Access Conditions: None. The contents of this collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information. Processing complete History: Preferred Citation: Marti Colon Cemetery Collection, Special Collections Department, Tampa Library, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Related Material: Funeral home records. Scope Note The collection of correspondence and documentation span from 1887-2011, while the funeral home records span from 1887-1940. Arrangement Note: Box 1 is a binder of correspondence, documentation, and information, is arranged topically, with the correspondence arranged chronologically. Box 2 is a box of funeral records, and is arranged by date and labelled by funeral home owner. Arrangement Box 1 is a binder of correspondence, documentation, and information, is arranged topically, with the correspondence arranged chronologically. Box 2 is a box of funeral records, and is arranged by date and labelled by funeral home owner. Subject Headings Subject Terms: Cemeteries -- Florida -- Hillsborough County
COLLECTION CONTENTS BOX 1 : The Mysteries of the Marti Colon Cemetery FOLDER 1 : Index FOLDER 2 : Introduction FOLDER 3 : Index of funeral homes record volumes, 1887-1940 FOLDER 3 FOLDER 1 : Marti Colon Cemetery burials only FOLDER 4 : Henry A. Echezabal, Sr.'s database of Marti burials, 1887-1940 FOLDER 4 FOLDER 1 : Burials by Name FOLDER 4 FOLDER 2 : Burials by Date of Birth FOLDER 4 FOLDER 3 : Burials by Date of Death FOLDER 5 : Alphabetical list of black burials FOLDER 6 : Black burial records from funeral homes FOLDER 7 : 1900's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 7 FOLDER 1 : Ghira Family Last Will and Testament: Land bequeathed to Josephine (Ghira) and Alfred Parslow, 2/12/1901 FOLDER 7 FOLDER 2 : Cemetery land deeded to J.L. Reed: Josephine and Alfred Parslow -> J.L. Reed, 12/20/1902 FOLDER 8 : 1930's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 8 FOLDER 1 : J.L. Reed -> Ben T. Davis: Willing to sell property for Columbus Dr. Right of Way, 9/10/1934 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 2 : Ben T. Davis: Columbus Dr. Right of Way, 9/10/1934-5/5/1936 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 3 : City of Tampa Resolution 2782-B: Acquisition of Marti land for Right of Way, 10/8/1935 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 4 : Cemetery Deeded to City of Tampa: Deed Book 1029 p. 538-544: J.L. Reed -> City of Tampa, 11/1935 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 5 : J.L. Reed Deposition - Removal of bodies: City of Tampa, J.L. Reed vs. J.W. Sheely et al, 4/13/1936 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 6 : Mayor -> Board of Representatives: Resolution - Opening of Columbus Dr. Right of Way, 5/5/1936 FOLDER 8 FOLDER 7 : Cemetery Lease Agreement: City of Tampa -> A.P. Boza Scope/Content: 6/22/1939 FOLDER 9 : 1940's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 9 FOLDER 1 : Petition A Protesting Black Burials in Marti, 12/17/1940 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 2 : Davis Causeway conveyed to FDOT: Deed Book 1269 p. 598, 3/10/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 3 : A.P. Boza Breech of Lease: City Clerk -> A.P. Boza, 8/19/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 4 : Mayor Curtis Hixon -> City Attorney Whitaker: Manner of burials, 11/20/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 5 : City Attorney -> Mayor Curtis Hixon: Status Report of cemetery, 11/21/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 6 : Parks Dept. -> City Attorney Whitaker: Field inspection report of Cemetery Scope/Content: 11/23/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 7 : Mayor Curtis Hixton -> City Attorney Whitaker: Remitting Field Inspection report from Parks Dept. Scope/Content: 12/04/1944
FOLDER 9 FOLDER 8 : City Attorney Whitaker -> City Clerk Bourqurdez: Requesting burial plot reports filed by A.P. Boza Scope/Content: 12/06/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 9 : City Attorney Whitaker -> Supt. City Parks Dept.: Condition of cemetery Scope/Content: 12/06/1944 FOLDER 9 12/06/1944 FOLDER 10 : City Attorney Whitaker -> City Hall Comptroller Pelbank: Request for A.P. Boza rental payments report, FOLDER 9 FOLDER 11 : City Attorney Whitaker -> Mayor Curtis Hixon: Cemetery Investigation report, 12/08/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 12 : Mayor Curtis Hixon -> A.P. Boza: Condition of cemetery, 12/08/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 13 : City Attorney Whitaker -> City Clerk: Return of City and Boza lease agreement, 12/09/1944 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 14 : City Attorney Thompson -> Mayor Curtis Hixon: Cemetery Appraisal report, 7/29/1947 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 15 : Mayor Curtis Hixon -> City Attorney Thompson: Lawsuit pending, 8/01/1947 FOLDER 9 FOLDER 16 : City Burial Certificates, 7/07/1949 FOLDER 10 : 1950's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 10 FOLDER 1 : Petition B Protesting Burials of Blacks in Marti, 7/24/1959 FOLDER 11 : 1960's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 11 FOLDER 1 : Asst. City Attorney -> Mayor Dick Greco: New lease with A.P. Boza, 7/15/196? FOLDER 11 FOLDER 2 : A.P. Boza -> City: Report on the Removal and reinturnment of bodies, 10/26/1960 FOLDER 11 FOLDER 3 : Desk memo from City Parks Dept. Director Kyle: Reeves did not remove bodies, 12/30/1960 FOLDER 11 FOLDER 4 : Amendment to A.P. Boza lease, 12/30/1960 FOLDER 11 FOLDER 5 : A.P. Boza -> City Engineer: List of all remains buried in Sections 4 & 5, 3/15/1962 FOLDER 11 FOLDER 6 : Release of Lease: City -> A. P. Boza Official Record Book 1328 p. 203, 3/19/1964 FOLDER 12 : 1970's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 12 FOLDER 1 : Chelsea Title Co. -> City of Tampa Land Office: Ownership title search report for North side of Marti, 9/18/1978 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 2 : Title Search for North side of Marti, 9/25/1978 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 3 : City Ordinance No. 151 dated 11/13/1913 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 4 : Deed Book 711/536 dated 5/22/1926 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 5 : Deed Book 1029/538 dated 11/9/1935 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 6 : Official Record 1328/203 dated 6/22/1939 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 7 : Official Record 1489/22 dated 7/12/1948 FOLDER 12 FOLDER 8 : Official Record 4589/889 dated 6/24/1985 FOLDER 13 : 1980's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 13 FOLDER 1 : Jones College -> A.P. Boza: Consumer complaint, 11/3/1981 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 2 : State Comptroller Office -> Parks Dept.: Consumer complaint regarding Marti, 12/9/1981 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 3 : Land Office Manager -> Parks Director Ferlita: Maintenance of cemetery, 12/29/1981 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 4 : Land Sales Agreement North Side of cemetery: City of Tampa -> Sam Leone, 12/6/1984 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 5 : Ordinance No. 8825-A: Rezoning North Side of cemetery, 3/7/1985 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 6 : Resolution 8133: Approving Deed between City -> Sam Leone, 6/13/1985 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 7 : Resolution 8134: Approving Amendment to Land Sales Agreement: Reduced area/sidewalk encroachment Scope/Content: 6/13/1985 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 8 : Land Sale North side of cemetery: City of Tampa -> Sam Leone, 6/24/1985 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 9 : Resolution 7033-H: Approving Land Sales Agreement between City and Sam Leone, 12/6/1985
FOLDER 13 FOLDER 10 : City Attorney -> Assistant City Attorney: Maintenance fees for cemetery, 3/23/1987 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 11 : Assistant City Attorney -> Memo to file: Telephone conversation with State Dept. of Banking and Finance, 4/6/1987 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 12 : Assistant City Attorney Prentice -> City Real Estate Div.: Requesting Ownership and Encumbrance Search, 4/10/1987 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 13 : City Attorney Fogarty -> A.P. Boza Funeral Home: Notification of Non-exemption, 4/13/1987 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 14 : Assistant City Attorney Prentice -> Memo to file: Meeting with Garden of Memories President Mark Panter, 5/13/1987 FOLDER 13 FOLDER 15 : Parks Dept. Diana Kyle -> City Legal Dept. Tyrone Brown: Condition of Cemetery/Maintenance, 11/30/1988 FOLDER 14 : 1990's Correspondence & Documentation FOLDER 14 FOLDER 1 : City Council -> Parks Department Director Ferlita: Condition of Cemetery/Maintenance, 4/18/1990 FOLDER 14 FOLDER 2 : Parks Dept. -> City Attorney: Memo dated 1/27/1982 / Maintenance, 8/29/1990 FOLDER 14 FOLDER 3 : Parks Dept. -> City Attorney: Memo dated 1/27/1982 / Maintenance, 9/29/1992 FOLDER 14 FOLDER 4 : Parks Dept. -> Ted's Landscaping: Employee at Marti Colon Cemetery, 11/15/1994 FOLDER 14 FOLDER 5 : Cemetery HIstory: Prepared by Joseph Murray, City Parks Dept., 2/29/1996 FOLDER 14 FOLDER 6 : Mr. Joe Garcia Requeset for Commemorative Marker, 6/09/1999 FOLDER 15 : Newspaper Articles FOLDER 15 FOLDER 1 : The Morning Tribune: J.L. Reed advertisement FOLDER 15 FOLDER 2 : The Morning Tribune: "J.L. Reed Buys a Fine Corner" FOLDER 15 FOLDER 3 : The Tampa Morning Tribune: West Tampa's 3rd Mayor "Death Rather Than Separation; Mayor Milian is a Suicide", 9/24/1908 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 4 : The Tampa Morning Tribune: "Thousands Attend Funeral of Milian", 9/25/1908 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 5 : The Tampa Tribune: "Abandoned Cemetery Still Holds Many of Tampa's Unknown Dead", 6/14/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 6 : The Tampa Tribune: "Old Cemetery To Be Fenced And Repaired", 6/19/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 7 : The Tampa Tribune: "Marti Burials Draw Protests", 7/10/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 8 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery Lease is Explained", 8/20/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 9 : The Tampa Tribune: "City Group Agrees to Boza Deal on Cemetery", 9/18/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 10 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery Area Urged As Park", 11/30/1959 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 11 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery Lease is Amended", 12/9/1960 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 12 : The Tampa Tribune: "Work is Started on Park", 12/10/1960 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 13 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery To Become Park", 12/20/1960 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 14 : The Tampa Tribune: "Grave Robbers take 2 boys' coffins; incident is 2nd in Tampa in week", 3/26/1989 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 15 : The Tampa Tribune: "Old Cemetery causing tax woe", 1/24/1990 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 16 : The Tampa Tribune: "Appraiser treks to Tallahassee to solve cemetery tax problem", 1/26/1990 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 17 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery sags with no one to claim it", 4/24/1993 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 18 : The Tampa Tribune: "Cemetery protesters seek council action today", 4/29/1993 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 19 : The Tampa Tribune: "City approves funds to clean cemetery site", 4/30/1993 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 20 : The Tampa Tribune: "City to hire crew to clean up cemetery", 5/7/1993 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 21 : The Tampa Tribune: "Funding sought to help cemetery ward off vandals", 10/20/1993 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 22 : The Tampa Tribune: "Missing graves haunt historic cemetery", 2/21/2000 FOLDER 15 FOLDER 23 : The Tampa Tribune: "City confirms report of buryovers", 3/21/2000 FOLDER 16 : Exhibit A
FOLDER 16 FOLDER 1 : Plat Book 1/100 Marti Cemetery, 5/18/1903 FOLDER 16 FOLDER 2 : Colon Cemetery as Re-Subdivided by Gerald Boza, 6/1945 FOLDER 16 FOLDER 3 : Ben T. Davis' Causeway Map, 1934 FOLDER 17 : Exhibit B FOLDER 17 FOLDER 17 FOLDER 1 : 1938 Aerial Photo of Marti FOLDER 2 : 2011 Aerial Photo of Marti FOLDER 18 : Exhibit C FOLDER 18 FOLDER 1 : Two photos condition of cemetery /1935 Bugert Brothers Photos FOLDER 19 : News Channel 8 Investigation of "The Mysteries of Marti" and disk containing electronic file of Marti database FOLDER 20 : Resources FOLDER 21 : Antonio Gonzalez Prado... 1864-1904 : First President of the Centro Asturiano, 2015 Scope/Content: Prepared and researched by Henry A. Echezebal, Sr. BOX 2 : Funeral Homes Record Volumes FOLDER 1 : Volume 1: Lovengreen, 1887-1905 Scope/Content: Went with the largest span of years since this is reflected in the scans FOLDER 2 : Volume 1: J.L. Reed, 1887-1905 Scope/Content: Went with the largest span of years since this is reflected in the scans FOLDER 3 : Volume 2: J.L. Reed, 1905-1906 FOLDER 4 : Volume 3: J.L. Reed, 1906-1908 FOLDER 5 : Volume 4: J.L. Reed, 1908-1910 FOLDER 6 : Volume 5: J.L. Reed, 1912-1915 FOLDER 7 : Volume 6: J.L. Reed, 1910-1916 FOLDER 8 : Volume 7: J.L. Reed, 1916-1918 FOLDER 9 : Volume 8: J.L. Reed, 1918-1920 FOLDER 10 : Volume 9: J.L. Reed, 1920-1924 FOLDER 11 : Volume 10: J.L. Reed, 1924-1927 FOLDER 12 : Volume 11: J.L. Reed, 1927-1929 FOLDER 13 : Volume 2: A.P Boza, 1931-1934 FOLDER 14 : Volume 3: A.P Boza, 1934-1936 FOLDER 15 : Volume 4: A.P Boza, 1936-1938 FOLDER 16 : Volume 5: A.P Boza, 1938-1940 Last modified on November 3rd, 2015 Copyright 2015 USF Tampa Library - Special & Digital Collections. All rights reserved.