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Article: It's like you've died and gone to Key West
- Article from:
- The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA
- Article date:
- September 7, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2002 The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Locals joke that the Key West Cemetery is in the "dead center" of
the island, the southernmost piece of property in the Continental
United States.
The cemetery, just four blocks from Key West's main drag, Duval
Street, is worth a half-day's visit - an original site among many
unusual island sights.
The old cemetery was pretty much washed away, with corpses
scattered in a nearby forest, when a hurricane swept through Key West
in 1846. The current one was opened for "business" a year later.
Most tombs are above ground, supposedly hurricane-proof stone or
concrete vaults decorated with sculptures of angels, animals and
cherubs. The most elaborate vaults are in brick or marble.
Some of the tombs ...