The history of the cemetery dates back to 1890 when Laura and William Brawner donated 16 acres of land for the establishment of a cemetery for black slaves. It was named Evergreen. During this time, blacks and whites were not allowed to be buried together. The first pioneer trustees of the cemetery were George W. Cook, L.W. Fountain, S.E. Jones, WE. Merritt, William M. Jones, John W. Ford, K.G. Gray and John Daniel Merritt.
These early pioneers were later employed as laborers with the fern industry. They worked first for Gordon Barnett and later for Hibbard Casselberry. While working in the fern industry, many went on to operate their own businesses, including grocery stores and building homes.
The Evergreen Cemetery survived two world wars, the depression and delinquent state tax certificate status to emerge in 1946 1dentical in size, as it was when it was dedicated. Having been in unincorporated territory, in 1946 it was in the city limits of the town of Casselberry., Florida. Also it was a “trust” property, with a cemetery tax exempt status property for property tax purpose. The land was use as a cemetery, it was also a place where people lived and raised their family. It was a food shortages, ration stamps was given out to be use only to buy butter and sugar, gas was 18cents a gallon, bread was 15 cents a loaf. Racism was very wide spread, racial discrimination was in everything, housing, education, jobs, waiting rooms, etc.
The cemetery was surrounded by forest with oak trees, sand pines, evergreen, camphor and palm trees, along with wild fern growing though out. There were the Casselberry ferries and packinghouse located nearby along with ash ferries that sat near what is now anchor road, there was one gas station and mechanic shop call buck horn.
Inside the confines of the cemetery grounds were “shotgun” houses. Traditionally within the black southern community, these were narrow houses without halls. If a bullet was fired through the front door, it would go right out the back door without hitting a wall. These houses were offered rent free and were known in the community as the Barnett and Casselberry quarters.
In the beginning, five churches helped maintain the grounds the EverGreen Cemetery. They were; Freewill Baptist Church, New Bethel AME Church, St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church, William Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, and a sanctified church which is now known as Church of God in Christ Love Tabernacle Church. One common cemetery maintenance practice was to cut the sand pines for Christmas trees. Over the years, the name “Evergreen” was forgotten. The cemetery has also been known as Altamonte Colored Cemetery, Fern Park Cemetery, and Altamonte and Fern Park Community Cemetery. Through the research efforts of Alton Williams, the cemetery in 2007 was returned to its original name of EverGreen Cemetery.
History Update
Evergreen Cemetery was placed on the State of Florida’s Task Force and Abandoned Cemeteries list. The Cemetery was incorporated in 1993 and was granted an exemption status is 1999. Evergreen Cemetery, Inc. is exempt from most of the provisions of Florida statute 497 because it is a non-for-profit association cemetery which provides only single-level ground burial and does not sell burial spaces or burial merchandise. The Cemetery’s rules and regulations do not allow for the installation of a double headstone. Verification of monuments is in compliance with the cemetery’s rules.
(Please see the gravesite assignment form, pages 1 & 2 for more specifics, located on the website: evergreencemetery.us)
