Melrose in Putnam County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Melrose Cemetery

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 4, 2016

1. Melrose Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Formerly known as the "Banana burying grounds," the Melrose non-denominational cemetery was established in 1860 by the Eliam Baptist Church, founded in 1859. The farming community of Banana consisted of small farms, a post office / general store and a gristmill owned by Dr. G.W. McRae (1829 - 1900), local physician and postmaster. The Baptists built their first church on the N.E. corner of the cemetery in 1860 and a second, larger church in 1883. In 1924 they relocated the church site to the town of Melrose where they built a third, larger church. Veterans of eight wars are interred here dating from the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) to the Vietnam War (1964-1973). The Civil War (1861-1865) accounts for six Union and 35 Confederate veterans graves. General Elias Earle (1821-1893), a prominent landowner and civic-minded developer of the Melrose area, fought in the Mexican - American War and the Civil War. In 1895 the church formed a Memorial Association to care for the cemetery property. The Melrose Cemetery Association and volunteers continue to maintain the grounds today. In 2007 a Veterans Memorial honoring veterans

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

of all wars was erected on the site of the 1883 church at the front of the cemetery.

Erected 2009 by Sponsored by the Eliam Baptist Church and the Florida Department of State 2009. (Marker Number F-678.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, Mexican-American • War, US Civil • War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 29° 42.416′ N, 82° 2.629′ W. Marker is in Melrose, Florida, in Putnam County. It is at the intersection of State Road 21 and Campbells Lane, on the left when traveling north on State Road 21. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 821 SR 21, Melrose FL 32666, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 4, 2017

2. Melrose Cemetery Marker

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Melrose Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Melrose High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Melrose Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Melrose World War I Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Melrose World War II Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Melrose (approx. 0.3 miles away); Melrose Woman's Club (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Historic Banana Community (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melrose.

Melrose Cemetery Veterans Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 4, 2017

3. Melrose Cemetery Veterans Memorial

In memory and honor of all who proudly served the United States of America in times of war and peace
Dedicated May 28, 2007
Melrose Cemetery Assoc
God Bless America

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,015 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 5, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.