City Point Cemetery

Cocoa, Florida

Plat 8, Section 7, Township 24 South Range 36 East

A PRIVATE CEMETERY

This property is on private land owned by the Hendry Family. It was originally owned by the Chancey Family; pioneers who came to Brevard about 1873. It is situated north of City Point Road which runs from U.S. 1 east to Indian River Drive along the west shore of the Indian River. There was once a small village here with a post office and a restaurant that was built on pilings over the Indian River. The village, post office and restaurant no longer exist. A Trust Fund , to care for the cemetery was set up by Susan Chancey many years ago. The original Trustees were Snell Hendry, John Chancey, and John Joyner. Present Trustees are Allen Hendry, of Cocoa and Harold Hendry, Jr., of St. Augustine.

The cemetery is small; being only .17 of an acre in size. Originally it was bordered with concrete posts and iron pipes. Cedar trees and various shrubs were planted all around to make the little plot a beautiful spot. There was asparagus ferns being raised nearby by the Hendry Fern Companies. (No longer in business) It is bounded on the north by orange groves that are old, overgrown with brush and no longer being harvested. Some years ago, a 6 foot high chain-link fence with a triple strand of barbed wire on the top was installed due to vandalism by teenagers. The fence has a double-gate, but it is chained and locked. The Author found the gate still locked and the padlock rusted shut. However, he was able to gain entrance to the cemetery through a small slit in the fence. The cemetery is overgrown with a tangle of vines, shrubs and trees.

If you are contemplating visiting this site, be advised that the surrounding jungle harbors rattlesnakes and wildlife. A rattlesnake was killed in this area that weighed almost 50 pounds! Take the following articles with you: a machete to cut vines and underbrush, long pants and a long sleeve shirt, hat, boots, insect repellent and a canteen of water. The Authur fortunately did not see any snakes, but he did disturb a wild bobcat that has a nest in some tangled trees overlooking the southeast corner of the cemetery. It is wise to go during winter months, as the foliage is less denise, snakes are usually hibernating or sluggish, and the insects are not as prevalent.

There are some unmarked graves and some with no marker. A few of the graves that are marked belong to persons not related to the Chanceys or Hendrys, but who were buried by request.

Charles M. Wentworth

(Extracted from Lesser-Known Pioneer Cemeteries of Brevard Co., Florida - Vol. 1. Published in 2000, by Charles M. Wentworth.)