Key West The Newspaper

On Wednesday, December 7th at 3 p.m. the public is invited to a gravestone blessing at the historic Key West Cemetery. St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Basilica’s priest will bless the gravestones of Ellen Welters Sanchez and Nelson English.

Miss Sanchez, who died in 2007, taught music to generations of Key West children and played the organ for St. Mary’s and numerous other churches. She organized the Island City Choral Singers and wrote the song “The Beautiful Isle of Key West” that was recorded by Coffee Butler. She taught in the public schools and organized her own kindergarten.

Nelson English became Postmaster of Key West in 1882. At the age of 33, he was the youngest African American named to that office. Jefferson Browne, his successor, named him Assistant Postmaster and he continued with the Post Office for 20 years. He was a talented musician and, with his friend Frank Welters, founded the Welters Cornet Band. His wife, Julia Post English, was a teacher at the Douglass School. Son James was principal of the Douglass School from 1914 until 1922.

These newly installed gravestones were provided through the partnership of the City Cemetery and the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. The foundation collects funds through tours and cemetery strolls which it then dedicates to conservation, restoration, and memorials at the cemetery.

“We are pleased to be able to provide these markers for previously unmarked graves,” says Diane Silvia, Executive Director of the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. “This partnership with the cemetery provides a double benefit because it also educates people about the history of Key West.”

Those in attendance will gather at the entrance to the Catholic Cemetery at the end of Palm Avenue in the City Cemetery at 3 p.m.