Cemetery a Day in May: Norwalk

Cemetery Log Date: May 7, 2014

Check out this cemetery from an abandoned community, now nestled in the Ocala National Forest...



Norwalk Cemetery is the final resting place for many who lived in Norwalk a community of about 500 people at its height in the late 19th century. Norwalk was settled 2 miles upstream from Paltaka on the St. Johns River in 1876 by folks from Maine and New York. The community once featured 2 churches, a public school, 2 sawmills, a tannery, a wagon shop, a harness shop, 2 blacksmiths and their very own post office. Unfortunately, the community ended around 1900 after the 1894-95 freezes destroyed the citrus groves that were the main source of income for the residents. 

Today, the cemetery is snuggled in between several houses along Cemetery Road in the Ocala National Forest.

Who: The cemetery is owned by Putnam County.

What: Ghost town cemetery dating to the late 19th century.

Where: 145 Cemetery Road, Ft. McCoy, FL, from Palatka: head about 18 miles south  on SR 19, turn left onto Cemetery Road

When: Open daily, from sunrise to sunset

Why:
  • Well-preserved iron works featuring maker's information
  • Last remnant of a once-thriving late 19th century farming community
  • Beautiful setting - mature pine stand within the Ocala Forest




For more information, check out the following links:
Virtual Tour by Florida Trailblazer
Information and grave listing from the Putnam County Historical Society

Text and images by: Emily Jane Murray, FPAN staff


2014 #CaDiM posts

2013 #CaDiM posts
IntroMay 1: NationalMay 2: OakdaleMay 3: Murphy's CreekMay 4: Mt. OliveMay 5: Bosque BelloMay 6: Old CityMay 7: EspanolaMay 8: TolomatoMay 9: PacettiMay 10: West ViewMay 11: Magnolia Springs,  May 12: St. Peter'sMay 13: Gravely HillMay 14: Pilgrim's RestMay 15: God's Little AcreMay 16: Dummet's GraveMay 17: No NameMay 18: St. MonicaMay 19: St. Joseph'sMay 20:  Old St. Joseph's (Duval)May 21: SampsonMay 22: Fernandez ReserveMay 23: St. AmbroseMay 24: Sons of IsraelMay 25: SanksvilleMay 26: HuguenotMay 27: Nombre de DiosMay 28: Beresford,May 29: JonesMay 30: San Sebastian/Pinehurst, May 31: Oaklynn