Archaeologists have confirmed at least 328 graves from a destroyed African American cemetery beneath the FrankCrum staffing firm's headquarters on Missouri Avenue in Clearwater.

Radar Survey More Than Quadruples Known Grave Count

Senior archaeologist Erin McKendry of Stantec presented the findings Monday, Sept. 14, at the Clearwater African American Cemeteries Memorial Committee meeting, hosted by the Clearwater/Upper Pinellas Branch of the NAACP, according to 10 Tampa Bay. The total includes 70 graves confirmed in a 2021 search and 258 additional graves detected since then using ground-penetrating radar.

Zebbie Atkinson IV, president of the Clearwater/Upper Pinellas NAACP, said the number stunned him.

Cemetery Served Black Residents From 1902 to 1940s

The St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery was established in 1902 and operated through the 1940s. It was once the only burial ground for Black residents in Clearwater. In 1940, city council minutes show officials ended burials at the site and opened a new segregated cemetery a few miles away, according to WTSP's review of court records.

Property Changed Hands, Uses for Decades

Researchers say land development pressures led the church to sell the property for $15,000 in the mid-1950s. Records show the new owner flipped the land two years later for $115,000. The site was redeveloped multiple times, housing a department store and a tech company before FrankCrum made it headquarters.

Company Says It Didn't Know Graves Existed

FrankCrum purchased the property in 2004. President Matt Crum has told 10 Tampa Bay his family was unaware of any graves on the site when they bought it. The company worked with the community, the city and the NAACP to hire archaeologists for the radar surveys and digs.

Ground-Truthing Confirms What Radar Detected

Archaeologists used a process called "ground-truthing" after the 2021 radar survey. They removed top layers of soil to confirm burials without disturbing the remains, verifying the radar results. Archaeologists believe more graves may lie under the FrankCrum building itself.

The multiyear investigation began after members of Clearwater's African American community, including Carlton Childs, came forward to the NAACP hoping to locate the cemetery. Childs has said he believes relatives are buried at the site.

Descendants' Wishes Should Guide Next Steps

No consensus exists yet on what should happen with the graves. Atkinson said the focus should be on what descendants want.

"We have to take the citizens that have loved ones here, we have to take their opinions into consideration first," he said.

Clearwater City Manager Jon Jennings called the situation the most troubling he has faced in his career. Listening to descendants is the priority, he said.

Lawsuit Targets Redevelopment Agency Over Graves

FrankCrum has filed a lawsuit against the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency, or CRA, accusing the agency of violating a 1998 development agreement with prior property owners that stated all graves had been removed. The city disputes liability, arguing the events occurred more than two decades ago. Clearwater has spent more than $237,000 on litigation defense, according to Law Commentary.

A Pinellas County judge set a jury trial for Oct. 5 to determine responsibility.

Second Hidden Cemetery Found Nearby

The St. Matthews cemetery is part of a broader pattern in Pinellas County. A second African American cemetery was found under the former Curtis Fundamental School in the North Greenwood neighborhood, a few miles from the FrankCrum site.

What's Next

A jury trial over responsibility for the graves is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, in Pinellas County court.