The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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Lakeside Cemetery Deed Origin and Bougainvillea Cemetery Incorporation

Public land records and corporate filings in Highlands County establish the legal origins, parcel boundaries, and institutional administration of Avon Park’s two historic public burying grounds: Lakeside Historical Cemetery on the south side and Bougainvillea Cemetery on Highway 27 North.[hcpao-lakeside-parcel][hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a]

Lakeside Historical Cemetery: The 6.59-Acre Deed Tract

Lakeside Historical Cemetery, historically referred to in genealogical indexes as Lincoln Garden Cemetery, is located at 1581 Cummings Avenue in Section 27, Township 33 South, Range 28 East.[hcpao-lakeside-parcel] On official Highlands County property appraiser tax rolls (parcel A-27-33-28-A00-0100-0000), ownership of the ground is designated under the title “AFRICAN-AMERICAN CEMETERY” with classified municipal use code 7610 (Cemetery/Mortuary).[hcpao-lakeside-parcel]

The property appraiser’s legal description provides the foundational statutory reference for the cemetery: “AFRICAN-AMERICAN CEMETERY TRACT DESC IN DB 79-PG 558 6.59 ACRES.”[hcpao-lakeside-parcel] This designation establishes that the 6.59-acre burial ground was conveyed and formally described in Deed Book 79, Page 558 of the county public records.[hcpao-lakeside-parcel]

County tax roll structural records document that 300 linear feet of six-foot fencing was installed along the boundaries in 1979, followed in 2014 by 470 linear feet of five-foot commercial steel fencing.[hcpao-lakeside-parcel] In 2024 and 2025, these physical perimeters formed the basis for an extensive restoration program undertaken by the municipal Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Duke Energy Foundation, providing matching grants for property surveying, security lighting, wrought-iron entrance gate repair, and the installation of three historical interpretive storyboards at the entrance.[hns-2025-03-10][hns-2025-05-12]

Bougainvillea Cemetery: Platted Lands and Corporate Incorporation

Bougainvillea Cemetery, originally laid out on ten acres by town founder Oliver M. Crosby, occupies 591 US Highway 27 North in Section 21, Township 33 South, Range 28 East.[hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a][dscn-1906-03-23] The burying ground spans two contiguous tax parcels: parcel A-21-33-28-010-0010-0000 within the municipal limits of Avon Park, and parcel C-21-33-28-010-0011-0000 in the unincorporated county.[hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a][hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-c]

Both parcels are legally described in public records by reference to recorded subdivision plats: “BOUGAINVILLEA CEMETERY PB-3-PG 90 + PB 7 PG 41 ALL CEMETERY.”[hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a][hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-c] The original blocks and circular drive layouts are recorded in Highlands County Plat Book 3, Page 90, with subsequent additions platted in Plat Book 7, Page 41.[hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a]

Although an unincorporated volunteer organization styled the Avon Park Cemetery Association cared for the cemetery from at least March 1906—when Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Butler donated a pump and well tubing to irrigate the memorial plantings—the association operated informally for decades.[dscn-1906-03-23] On 7 June 1990, civic trustees formally incorporated the entity under Florida law as Avon Park Cemetery Association, Inc. (Document Number 703867), holding fee simple title to the cemetery grounds.[sunbiz-cemetery-assoc-1990][hcpao-bougainvillea-parcel-a] The corporation received federal tax-exempt classification under Section 501(c)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code in November 1991 (EIN 59-0751585), with ongoing perpetual care supported by the affiliated Bougainvillea Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust created in April 1992.[irs-501c13-cemetery-assoc-1991]

References

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
Review
unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
Rights
society

Sources

  1. Highlands County Property Appraiser, Highlands County Property Appraiser Parcel A-27-33-28-A00-0100-0000, 1581 Cummings Ave, Avon Park (2026) · official
  2. Highlands County Property Appraiser, Highlands County Property Appraiser Parcel A-21-33-28-010-0010-0000, 591 US 27 N, Avon Park (2026) · official
  3. Highlands County Property Appraiser, Highlands County Property Appraiser Parcel C-21-33-28-010-0011-0000, 591 US 27 N, Avon Park (2026) · official
  4. Florida Division of Corporations, Avon Park Cemetery Association, Inc., Articles of Incorporation, 7 June 1990 (Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Document 703867) (1990) · official
  5. Internal Revenue Service, Avon Park Cemetary Association, EIN 59-0751585, 501(c)(13) Determination (1991) · official
  6. The De Soto County News, Avon Park department, The De Soto County News (Arcadia, Fla.), 23 March 1906, page 8 (1906) · newspaper
  7. Highlands News-Sun, Duke Energy funds African-American Cemetery restoration, Highlands News-Sun, 10 March 2025 (2025) · newspaper
  8. Diego De Jesus, Highlands News-Sun, CRA Board OKs 3,000 toward cemetery's renovation, Highlands News-Sun, 12 May 2025 (2025) · newspaper

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