A Living History
Lutz Cemetery in Lutz, Florida, stands as a century-old monument to community and memories. Founded in 1911 when C.E. Thomas, president of the North Tampa Land Company, donated the original parcel - a narrow 230x80-foot strip just north of "downtown" Lutz along U.S. 41 - it has since grown into a roughly five-acre historic burial ground.
The Cemetery's first known burial is believed to be Mr. Nims, laid to rest in 1914; his marker has since vanished. Reporting by Kathy Steele for the Lutz Laker News in November 2015, states, "Local lore tells that Ira Goheen and his father Alfred carpentered his coffin - a lasting testimony to early settler resourcefulness."
Steele goes on to share that "Over the years, the grounds became the final resting place for pioneers and community leaders: Fred Polen, a schoolteacher and mail carrier; Herbert Vernon, early businessman; and three generations of the Goheen family. Modern civic figures such as Oscar Cooler, noted youth-sports advocate, and Carolyn Meeker, longtime Lutz Civic Association president, are interred here - underscoring its enduring role as community cemetery.
Read the full Report by Kathy Steele Here: A Walk Through History at Lutz Cemetery
As a community cemetery, the maintenance and upkeep were strictly volunteer-based, with Lutz residents gathering when they could to maintain the gravesites and grounds. By the mid-1950s, volunteerism began to wane. To better manage the cemetery, the Lutz Cemetery Association was formed in 1956 with the intent of assuming responsibility for the cemetery.
In 2024, The American Legion Post 108 acquired ownership and launched a revitalization project that includes new signage, grounds restoration, columbarium installations, and mapping systems. Post 108 has successfully digitized all cemetery records and created an interactive burial search site to serve the community better.
With more than 1800 burials, including 215 veterans, Lutz Cemetery remains a historical landmark for the community.