Add as a preferred source on Google

Burial Grounds Found on Tampa School Property

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 11/26/19

A Florida school district recently discovered nearly 150 unmarked graves on the property of King High School in Tampa, Florida after receiving a tip.

Based on radar scans of the property, about 145 coffins were found buried three to five feet below the ground, according to Hillsborough County Public Schools.

The graves are believed to be part of the historic Ridgewood Cemetery, which was primarily a burial ground for African Americans. The cemetery opened in 1942 and the school district purchased the land in 1959. A school board member received a tip from someone who suggested there might be a cemetery on the property based on historical data.

Geophysical technicians, hired by the district, mapped and scanned the land and found “clear evidence of burials” in the area — which was used for the school's agricultural program. It contained lab facilities, a building and an open field for animals, reported NBC News.

More than 250 graves are believed to be interred at the cemetery, but some may be too decayed to be detected by radar. Records show as many as 77 of the people buried in the cemetery are infants or children.

The Hillsborough County Public Schools sent its findings to the county medical examiner and state archeologist who will review the findings and determine whether the land should be returned to the school. The school plans to relocate the agricultural building, depending the outcome of the review.

The school created a Historical Response Committee to "discuss proper ways to memorialize the individuals, how to best care for the space and learning opportunities for students at King High School and other schools."

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

Digital Edition