The Public Archeology Network cleans up Fort Myers grave sites

Archaeologists were at the old Fort Myers cemetery off Michigan Ave on Friday.

The Public Archeology Network of Florida trucks caught WINK news’ attention as we drove through the area on Friday, where a group of people were cleaning old headstones at the grave sites.

It was part of a historic educational event highlighting the history of Fort Myers.

The group hosts public events each month and since Friday iwas the final day of Historic Preservation Month, they wanted to teach people how to properly clean headstones and share the history of the people buried there.

“Our very first settlers, Manuel and Evelena Gonzalez are buried here. I cleaned their stone a year or two ago.” said Breanne Busch-Simpson, with Grave maid and True Tours “A lot of the first families are buried here. Behind me is an obelisk for William Towles. His great-great-grandson just opened the Voodoo Brewery in Downtown Fort Myers. We have 42 Civil War veterans buried here.”

The group has events planned each month where everyone is welcome. They even have educational tours and events in Spanish.

Events can be found here.