Rachel Halabi Photo Essay: Mount Olive Cemetary

[Metro Jacksonville]

Rachel Halabi Photo Essay: Mount Olive Cemetary



These photographs illustrate the forlorn condition of Mount Olive Cemetery --One of Jacksonville's oldest.  It shows the lack of care and respect that we as a community show our loved ones that have passed. This should be a place of rest not restlessness. Join us after the jump for the sad photos

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jun-rachel-halabi-photo-essay-mount-olive-cemetary-

[AshleyLauren]

Wow. Such simplicity in the photos, yet you can really feel the pain. How terrible a grave site has been left to rot, literally. It is hauntingly beautiful. Call me crazy, shouldn't cemetery's be legally protected somehow??

[Timkin]

Very saddening that some people have total disregard for someone's final resting place.

[strider]

As they were abandoned in 1990, how many years property taxes are owed?  Does this mean they are in Lands Available?  Therefore, now technically owned by the city?

[thelakelander]

Great shots.  We may need to modify some of the text.  Mount Olive isn't the city's oldest cemetery and I don't believe it officially dates back to the 1880s.  Other than that, it is a shame what has happened to it and several other cemeteries in the vicinity.

[thelakelander]

I did some serious research on this site and the other cemeteries when I was considering it for the Reclaiming Jacksonville book.  Some of the others in the immediate vicinity date back to that period, but this particular cemetery didn't.  Also, while Abraham Lincoln Lewis and the Afro American Insurance Company owned and operated the others in this area, this one was owned by the James Craddock, owner of the Two Spot. 

Here's a link that kind of hits on it: http://books.google.com/books?id=A_bZhe4no8UC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=two+spot+jacksonville+cemetery&source=bl&ots=wePPusFHV1&sig=RN-hzMMBxnFhvML7_SAFY18A7ng&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9HDwT6OCFs_gqAGknbn9AQ&ved=0CE4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=two%20spot%20jacksonville%20cemetery&f=false

[thelakelander]

http://www.sgesjax.com/CRPT/www/Mt.%20Olive%20Cemetery%20By%20Name.pdf

here is a registry of the mount olive graves as of 2008.  Its a bit of a depressing list actually.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if some to the graves with deaths that date before the cemetery was established, were relocated from other cemeteries in the area, such as the one that was in Durveeville/Sugar Hill.

[thelakelander]

The multiple sources I was able to secure from the historic preservation office, JPL's Special Collections department and google books indicate it was officially platted as "Mount Olive" sometime in the mid 20th century.  I'm in Detroit so I can't access my research papers at the moment, so I can't give the exact date right now.  There are serveral cemeteries in the immediate vicinity.  Can you scan and post the pre-fire maps to see if the exact site matches up?

[thelakelander]

Perhaps there was a small graveyard or something on that site which pre-dates Craddock's development of Mount Olive?

[AshleyLauren]

Stephen and Lake,
Do either of you know the answer to Strider's question??

[thelakelander]

Property taxes are exempted.  According to the property appraiser's site it's not owned by the City of Jacksonville.

http://apps.coj.net/PAO_PropertySearch/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=0226640000

[Timkin]

Would a group be allowed to go in and clean up the Cemetary or would we get in trouble for doing this ?

[strider]

Property taxes are exempted.  According to the property appraiser's site it's not owned by the City of Jacksonville.

http://apps.coj.net/PAO_PropertySearch/Basic/Detail.aspx?RE=0226640000

Yep, no back taxes due and it is exempt.  So, the  issue is the back MCCD liens? 

Lien Details
Type     Number     Date     Base Amount     Interest     Due Amount
Nuisance Lien    NBNL12002933    2/15/2012    $1,612.17     $64.48     $1,676.65
Nuisance Lien    NBNL11006192    6/22/2011    $1,871.79     $224.64     $2,096.43
Nuisance Lien    NBNL11004591    3/3/2011    $1,736.86     $260.55     $1,997.41
Nuisance Lien    NBNL10002716    2/11/2010    $943.04     $264.04     $1,207.08
Nuisance Lien    NBNL07000703    1/24/2007    $714.42     $464.10     $1,178.52
Nuisance Lien    NBNL06001250    7/11/2006    $446.76     $259.26     $706.02
Nuisance Lien    NBNL04000939    1/9/2004    $929.53     $939.30     $1,868.83
Nuisance Lien    NBNL03002674    9/4/2003    $921.79     $968.10     $1,889.89
Nuisance Lien    NBNL03001753    6/12/2003    $877.02     $947.16     $1,824.18
Nuisance Lien    NBNL02002698    8/8/2002    $803.64     $948.72     $1,752.36
Nuisance Lien    NBNL02001455    2/12/2002    $733.57     $910.15     $1,643.72
Nuisance Lien    NBNL00001139    3/22/2000    $745.58     $1,096.51     $1,842.09
Nuisance Lien    970102330    9/26/1997    $789.00     $1,396.53     $2,185.53
Nuisance Lien    970006920    11/15/1996    $1,229.00     $2,298.23     $3,527.23

I didn't add them up, but they do look to be substantial.

Following the link to the page for the "sale" in 2008 leads to a blank page.  In any case, it does appear that COJ has been mowing it once in a while, probably what the liens are for.

[rkkvfl]

How sad, you would think the city of Jacksonville (Mayor, Gov.) would have some compassion; some kind of grave yard fund should have been started long ago..to keep these sacred places up to par!!!!   It's a shame that the family members must keep up each loved ones plot.  I guess this is what happens when there are NO family members alive for the upkeep, and if so, shame on YOU!