Item C38
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:
October 18.19.2000
Division:
Public Works
Bulk Item: Yes -1L.. No
Department:
Facilities Maintenance
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of Florida Historical Marker Application for Old Island
Restoration Foundation, Inc. to erect an African Slave Burial Ground marker at Higgs Beach across from
the West Martello Tower, and authorization for Mayor to execute same.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Old Island Restoration Foundation, Inc. wants to erect a cast aluminum
sign 30" high by 42" wide to note the African Slave Burial Ground in Key West. They are requesting
Monroe County BOCC, as owners of the land, to approve the Florida Historical Marker Application to the
State of Florida. All costs associated will be paid by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, Inc.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: None on this item.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval as stated above.
TOTAL COST: $ 0.00
BUDGETED: Yes
Account #
N/A
NO
Cost to County: $ 0.00
REVENUE PRODUCING: YES
NO l AMOUNT PER MONTH
YEAR
APPROVED BY:
OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management
-...
DMSION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
/o6~o
Dent Pierce, Division Director
DOCUMENTATION: Included -1L.. To follow
Not required
AGENDA ITEM #
1-(3<6
DISPOSITION:
(!F)LD lfSLAND l\ESTORATION .fOUNDATION lfNC.
P.O. Box 689, Key West, FL 33041
E.tabli.hed 1960
September 14, 2000
Mr. Carlos Zarate
Senior Director ofFacili'ies
Monroe County Public Wo~ks
358:1 South Roosevelt Boulevard
Ke',' WeSL FL 33040
Dear 1\1r Zarate:
Enclosed is our application to the State of Florida to erect an historical marker to note the
African Slave Burial Ground in Key West. This marker is to be erected across the street
from the West Martello Tower. The marker will be cast aluminum, with the text area
measuring 30" high and 42" wide. The marker will be dark blue with white text. The
marker will be mounted 4' above the ground on a metal and concrete post The attached
sheet gives the specifics :)fthe marker. This will be similar to the historical markers
iocated in front of the Audubon House, Clinton Square, the Porter Mansion, Building 21
in the Truman Annex, the old Convent on Truman Avenue, etc
The entire cost of this project will be born by Old Island Restoration Foundation, Tnc If
the county needs to do the actual excavation and erection of the monument we wil!
reimburse you for all expenses. \Ve need your approval 0!1 the second page (line] 1) of
the applicat;on before we submit this to Catherine Clark, the State Historic Marker
Coordinator in Tallahassee, She said that after she approves an application it takes about
eight weeks for a marker to be cast We would like to have this project completed by next
February so we can have a dedication ceremony during Black History Month,
Ifyc~ have a!lY question', regarding this request please contact me 2t 294-9501,
appreciate all the assista!lce that Monroe County can provide in recognizing an incident in
Key West history that had national significance
Sincere!y,
oIJ~~t,~
David L Roumm
Executive Director
RE(~l~T'lED 1
S E P 1 4 ZOOO I
',,~,.,~'\dUJ- I'
't'I.~
FLORIDA HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ST ATE
MARKER TYPES
'Standard Florida Historic Marker . :";
Cast aluminum, text area is 30" high X 42" \\ide; dark -m
blue background; letters and Florida Heritage emblem
are white; comes with a 7' concrete post coated with
brushed aluminum (three feet of the post goes into
ground.). Prices range depending on length of text ~
(average price for marker with same text on both sides .~-
is $1440.)
Purpose: This is the principal marker used to recognize
historic sites of interest throughout Florida.
"_ .... .- o. ..,",.. . ;
, ::"..- ,': }:~ '\} ;".j}~'~;,:~.:':Y~'\:;, :.:/~:, .:' ~ .
-. . .!.
"- ". .. =: . ~.~'/~~~.
....~ '.,~ ?>z.
FlDRID\
HERffi\GE
~
m
Intcrpretivc Florida Historic Marker
Anodized aluminum, 24" long X 24" wjde and 3/8"
thick, blue background with silver letters; text limited to
one side only; the mounting plate is at a 30 degree
angle; the square aluminum silver post is 4Y2' high.
Price: $1,015.
Purpose: To supplement the standard marker by
providing further information regarding the site. This
marker can also include graphics and photographs.
..
Grcat Floridians Plaquc
Dark blue porcelain enamel on anodized aluminum, Florida
Heritage emblem and letters are white; the round plaque is
12" in diameter with a Y4" edge; text limited to name of
historic person, date line and type of association with property;
plywood mounting block provided upon request; Price: $175.
Purpose: to recognize properties associated with deceased
persons who have contributed to the rich fabric of Florida
history and culture.
FLORIDA HISTORICAL MARKER APPLICATION
HR3E171294
1. Historic Name of Resource
Historic Name I(FA-lCAN &U~11L (;./{OUf'/V,f-r HIGGS (?6t?-CII
Suggested Marke'r Title _AE&J CAN e V A. 14-- L t;A,. 0 V N fJ - J t 60
2. Location of Resource
Street & Number 11 DO
City -K~Y W ESy
&LOCk OF ITl.1JJTLC
County M 0 N(~JJ E.
f()u LeV I}f( V
Zip Code
3 3oCfo
3. Property Owner
Owner Name tit ON/{06 C6U NTY
Street & Number r; () 0 w II ITE If 6 If [J
Cityrrown .K't;y WEST
STREET
State fW'R 10,4
Telephone (30.r) 1.92-- 3 (';-30
Zip Code 3.3 0 lf6'
4. Classification of Resource
Type of Ownership:
Private (Individual) 0
Private (For Profit) 0
Private (Non-Profit) 0
Public (Local) ~
Public (State) 0
Public (Federal) 0
Type of Resource:
Building 0 Structure
District 0 Object
~ Other
Site
o
o
o
~ }.} o VI<.] ,4 P,4- Y
,
DJY
cVE',{lY
Public Access to Site (days of week & hours site available to public
(Access to certain parts of the site may be restricted by the property owner)
5. Marker Type & Category
Type of Marker Applied for: Category:
.~ Standard Ma~ker 0 Florida Heritage Site (Locally Significant)
o Supplementary Marker 18.f Florida Heritage Landmark (Regional & Statewide Significance)
B Florida Heritage Plaque Is request for a new or replacement marker~O Replacement
I~ resource listed in. the National Register of Historic Places? 0 Yesfgf No
6. Resource Description
(Brieny describe the historic and current physical condition of the Resource. Use continuation sheets if necessary.)
~E ( CONTI tvU;fTlON S{!f.fT
,,-~.. . U' ton. 1L/~4
7'. Statement of Signifi'cance
(Brieny explain the significance of the Resource. Use continuation sheets if necessary.)
S~ E- C(JNI)NU,fT(ON ~H6tT
8. Marker Text
Please submit 'a proposed text for your marker typewritten on a continuation sheet. Text limits for the three types of markers are:
Standard Marker: 19 lines, 1,235 characters (The same text will appear on both sides of the marker.)
Supplementary Marker: 10 lines, 300 characters (Text appears on one side only.)
Heritage Plaque: No more than 50 characters. Information is limited to the name of the historic person and the dales and type of
assodation with resource, e.g., 'Claude Pepper Law Office 1925-1930"
9. Required Documentation
Please submit the following items with the completed form.
Major Bibliographical References
Cite the books, artides and other sources that provided the historical and descriptive information used in preparing this application.
Maps
A sketch map and site plan showing the location of the resource. Also indicate on the map where the historical marker is to be erected or
placed.
Photographs
Submit at least one recent photograph of the resource to be marked. Photocopies of photographs, drawings and other artistic
representations are not acceptable.
Please indicate what persons or organizations (if other than the property owner) will be responsible for the erection and
maintenance of the Florida Historical Marker or Plaque. (Use continuation sheet If necessary.)
6LO tS'LANO RGJ-rOR.;4:(/C9!V FO VNO~T(ON
PI 0 ( . fO'f.. 63'1
K E'( W fST, F L 33 0 'tt - 0 r; i &}
(-;o>) 2-14-- q >" I
1 O. Form Prepared By
Name J) ,4V 10
L\ ROv,!v1/"1.['^E'CVTIV{ VI,..QE:CTOA" OJR.F
, I
32 LOU V,4 L- 51 ~ E ET ·
FL
Telephone
(3LiS) 2 q Lf~q )0/
'3 3 Cllf-tJ
Street & Number
Cityrrown j(~YWf{T
State
Zip Code
11. Owner Approval Statement
As the owner, or the official representative of the owner, of the property, I am aware of and agree to the
submission of this application to place an Official Florida Historical Marker or Plaque on my property.
Owner Signature
Date
Mrican Burial Ground at Higgs Beach
Continuation Sheet
Paragraph 6 - Resource Description
The site of the 1860 African Burial Ground is occupied by the West Martello Tower, a
Civil War fort used today by the Key West Garden Club as their headquarters and
showplace gardens. Part of the Burial Grounds lie east of the fort in an area of
recreational beach. We propose to locate a roadside marker on Atlantic Boulevard across
from the entrance to the fort, Atlantic Boulevard is a two lane blacktop street with no
curb or sidewalks, A blacktop bicycle path follows along part of the western side of the
street The exact spot for the marker is a grassy area near several ra1m trees and picnic
tables
Paragraph 7 - Statement of Significance
In the spring and summer of 1860 three ships carrying cargoes of slaves from the west
coast of Africa were intercepted in the Caribbean by the U.S. Navy. The slaves were
taken to Key West and housed in temporary barracks along the Atlantic side of the island
until they could be repatriated to Africa, However, 294 died within weeks from tropical
diseases or suicides and were buried on the area of the island tociay known as Higgs
Beach, Most of the Africans were taken back to the continent, mostly to Liberia, The
incident received national publicity, appearing in "Harper's Weekly" of June 2, 1860 and
"Frank Leslie's JIlustrated Newspaper" of June 23, 1860
Paragraph 8 - Marker Text
African Burial Ground - 1860
Near this site lie the remains of294 Africans who died in Key West in 1860 In the spring
of that year three ships carrying cargoes of African slaves bound for Cuba were captured
in the Caribbean by the US Navy, 1432 Africans were rescued and brought to Key West,
where they were housed until they could be returned to Africa, Most were taken to
Liberia in west Africa by August; however, 294 died of disease and depression and were
buried in unmarked graves on Higgs Beach where West Martello Tower stands today
Marker erected by Olel Island Restoration Foundation ....2001
Paragraph 9 - Required Documentation
See attached binder prepared by Gail Swanson for the Florida Keys Maritime History
Conference, May 2000
,.
....
c;
l~ 8
'<
~
...
~
~
..
;;:
~
\J.)
~
~
~
z
...0
<-
;>1-
<<
z~
.u.I
.~~
...._. :J a:
--~~
\
\.t.
C)
9
--<
C)
~
~
'\.J
~
.J
'D
c
~
~
~
~
ct:
~
~-,
..,~
'-.~
:tl.O
I.s c
:c .;;;
..... C'O
i ::J CO
!.....
,
'.....,......... 1
. \--y~
.~~ - ....,
.... tr.
~C
.~ CO
~"U;
-
'=
o
X
~
~
~
"'z
<0
;>-
<I-
z<
;>
via:
. u.I
:J~
a:
~ ....--1.------.---
._ L
co
,....
1---- ___n_____~-. -----..
r-
r -
-1__
o
N
c...6FT - VL~w PR.OM
WfST Mt1ItT€U-O '[uW<."R
~y.cW{~ L()C,fT[ON
OF 'P({O PCJSfO MtAAlr 6ft
~fLO\N - Vlf\N' FR-ofl1
wEfT /'II/Jft T€:UjJ "rCWcR.
>H-oW(~6- L-OC,fTCON Op
flto~oStP MAAlfG~
L [FT -6 tVT/VJN~ "to
W' G IT ,Nt AA.:TEL-l..O
~t>Wf"R VL ~wEO
~M~ A-CllArs rT~ffT
W"H6/tc 1'14AIcER. wovLC
eE pc.,-K~o
f~LOW- W'IP~~ V/~w
OF W€-Jr M4(L7EtLo
~()W6R. W[fff G6W6RJ.L
L(}CA-'lCc1(\[ t1p M,9Ak$R.
rv-OTED w tiEf \,v HfTG )C