Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 11-26-19

Features
17 More Graves Discovered At Zion Cemetery
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week 17 additional graves were discovered at the Robles Park Public Housing Complex. The discov- ery brings the number of coffins discovered to 144.
Mrs. Lillian Stringer, Public Relations Director for the Tampa Housing Authority, said, the Tampa Housing Authority Cardno Archaeology is set to con- duct a more extensive search of the property.
Earlier this year, the Tampa Housing Authority learned that the Robles Park Public Housing Complex occupied 2-1/2 acres of what once was Zion Cemetery. The agency hired Cardno Archaeology, working in con- junction with the USF Archaeology Department.
The firm used ground penetrating equipment to determine if there are any anomalies on the site. At the conclusion of the initial search, 127 anomalies were discovered on the property.
After the discovery was made, the Tampa Housing Authority established a Historical Response Commit- tee to discuss the future of the property. There are cur- rently no plans to relocate the graves or to tear down any of the buildings. Instead, the Tampa Housing Au- thority plans to memorialize the area where the bodies
An additional 17 graves were recently discovered on the land that was Zion Cemetery. The Tampa Hous- ing Authority began construction of the Robles Park Public Housing Complex in 1951.
were discovered.
According to records, the Zion Cemetery, located
at the corner of Florida Avenue and Virginia, came into existence in 1901 as a burial site for African Americans. The last known burials took place on the property be- tween 1913 and 1920.
Records show that there were as many as 400 graves in the cemetery. However, some of the graves were relocated.
The property was purchased by Richard Doby, a wealthy African American Tampa resident, and founder of Dobyville, which is located in the present day Hyde Park area.
It is unclear when the ownership of the property changed hands. However, the Tampa Housing Author- ity acquired the property decades later.
In 1951, when construction began to build Robles Park Public Housing Complex, three caskets were un- earthed. The construction continued and the complex opened in 1954 as the 7th oldest public housing com- plex in Tampa.
There are currently 96 people living in the area of the cemetery. The residents of those five buildings will be relocated to other public housing locations or given housing assistance vouchers, she said.
Florida Classic: Record-Setting Crowd Watch Bethune-Cookman Upset Florida A&M
On Saturday night, during the 40th Annual Florida Clas- sic, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats defeated the Florida A & M Rattlers. The Wildcats walked away with a 31-27 vic- tory at Camping World Sta- dium.
The victory took place be- fore a crowd of 55,730, the largest attendance draw since 2011.
It was supposed to be a coronation for Florida A&M University The Rattlers were poised to be anointed the best team in Black college football. But, Bethune-Cookman didn’t get the memo.
It was the ninth consecu- tive Wildcats win over the Rat- tlers in the series.
The Wildcats (7-4, 5-3 MEAC) entered the contest as underdogs, even with recent success. For Coach Terry Sims, whose voice was hoarse following the game, every time the Wildcats beat their rival, it’s a special moment.
“Every year we win, it’ll be the best win,” Sims said. “If you want me to say where this ranks, its No. 1 and after we play another Classic and we win that one, that’ll be No. 1. That’s the way it is.”
B-CU running back Isaac Washington rushed for a game-winning 15-yard touch- down with 2:14 left to play. Washington had 12 carries for 104 yards. His touchdown run was set up by quarterback Akevious Williams com-
Wildcats celebrate 31-27 victory over FAMU.
Florida A & M University Marching Rattlers during half-time.
A record-setting crowd was on hand to witness the Wildcats de- feat the Rattlers for the 9th consecutive year.
pleting a pass to Steffon Francois for a 44-yard gain after Williams did not see a wide open receiver streaking down the middle of the field.
Williams finished the game 22-of-35 passing for 269 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Williams, along with the rest of the senior class finished their careers without losing to FAMU.
The contest essentially was FAMU’s (9-2, 7-1) national championship game. The Rat- tlers self imposed a postseason ban after the NCAA discovered 93 athletes from 12 sports were improperly certified to participate play from 2010-11 academic year through 2016- 17. As a result, the mythical Black college football national title and a rivalry win were the top prize available for the Rat- tlers.
FAMU entered the contest as the highest ranked HBCU (Historically Black Colleges
and Universities) in the coun- try and could have claimed the Black college football national title if they pulled off Florida Classic win, but B-CU proved records and rankings don’t matter in this rivalry series.
“I don’t care what anybody says, we’re MEAC champs,” FAMU Coach Willie Sim- mons said, noting his team finished with the best league record but wouldn’t officially be crowned champions be- cause of the postseason ban. “... This program is not going anywhere and we’re here to stay.”
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first quarter when safety Trevor Merritt picked off FAMU Ryan Stan- ley and ran 23 yards for a score.
B-CU extended its lead to 21-7 at one point in the first half when Williams found re- ceiver Francois for a 28-yard touchdown.
FAMU and Stanley bat- tled back.
Stanley, who has set school career passing records, led multiple touchdown drives in the second half.
With time ticking down, Bethune began to celebrate another win over their rival and will look to extend the winning streak to a decade next year.
“Honestly, I was just ex- cited and relieved. I cramped after the fourth quarter,” Sims said. “I was just happy togetawin....Iwasjustex- cited for these guys to be put in a position to win another Clas- sic. To have another year of bragging rights because that’s what it is. It’s a friendly battle but it’s another year of brag- ging rights.”
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