Posted on March 22, 2013 by Will

Oyster tonging

Oystering communities around the world take pride in the quality and freshness of their succulent bivalves, and Apalachicola is no exception. With its brackish waters and calm winds, Apalachicola Bay is a prime setting for both oysters and the industry built around them to thrive.

Young boy enjoying oyster at the Florida Seafood Festival – Apalachicola, Florida

The people of Apalachicola possess skills, beliefs, and a spirit of generosity and perseverance that make the community unique. Crafts such as boat building or oyster tong making are passed down through generations, as are techniques for harvesting and shucking the oysters. Successful seafood distributors make the product available to the many restaurants and retailers in the region, and the community celebrates its heritage during the annual Florida Seafood Festival.

Miss Florida Seafood 1974, Rosalie Nichols, at the Florida Seafood Festival

From 1986-1987, the Florida Folklife Program, in collaboration with the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, conducted the Maritime Heritage Survey. The fieldworkers documented fishing communities around the state, including a wealth of interviews and photographs from Apalachicola. The following sound clips came from that survey.

Interview with oyster shuckers Virginia Duggar and Nanette Lolley

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Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record

Oyster shuckers Virginia Duggar and Nanette Lolley describe techniques for shucking oysters and the tools of the trade.

Oyster cracking machine in J. Hewett’s shop: Eastpoint, Florida

Interview with oyster tong maker Corky Richards

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download: MP3

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record

Corky Richards discusses materials and terminology used for building oyster tongs, how they are built, what makes a good pair of tongs, and how they can be customized for each oysterman.

Corky Richards making an oyster tong: Apalachicola, Florida

Interview with oyster shucking knife maker Loys Cain

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Download: MP3
More Info: Catalog Record

Knife maker Loys Cain discusses materials and tools for building oyster shucking knives, as well as how health and safety regulations have impacted the construction of the knives.

Knife maker Loys Cain with finished oyster knife: Eastpoint, Florida

How do you like your oysters? Baked? Steamed? Raw on the half-shell? Tell us about where your favorite oysters come from and how you eat them!

What’s Your Hurry?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Beth

Why race off? Slow down and smell the salt water!

Ranson E. Olds in the Olds Pirate: Ormond Beach (ca. 1896)

Louis Ross in a Stanley Steamer automobile: Daytona Beach (1903)

Arthur McDonald in his Napier racer: Daytona Beach (1905)

Barney Oldfield racing the Blitzen Benz: Daytona Beach (1910)

Sir Henry Segrave in the Golden Arrow: Daytona Beach (1929)

Tommy Milton: Daytona Beach (1920)

Harry Hartz: Miami Beach (1926)

Ralph DePalma in his Packard V-12: Daytona Beach (1919)

Buddy Callaway: Daytona Beach (1936)

Jack Etheridge in Bill Milam’s Special 1: Daytona Beach (1947)

Sig Haugdahl in the Wisconsin Special: Daytona Beach (1922)

Sir Malcolm Campbell in his Bluebird: Daytona Beach (1935)

A Day at the Beach

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Beth

How’s the weather where you are? Come to Florida, where any day is just another day at the beach.

Ormond Beach (ca. 1895)

Miami Beach (early 1900s)

Fort Myers (1961)

Key West (1978)

Smathers Beach, Key West (1989)

Batter Up!

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Jon

Few things announce the arrival of spring in Florida quite like the crack of the bat, cheering fans and vendors peddling peanuts. Since the late 19th century, many Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises have favored sites in Florida to conduct their annual spring training exercises.

Babe Ruth in Jacksonville for spring training (1920s)

Spring training in Florida really took off in the early 20th century. During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, practically every burgeoning town courted MLB franchises as part of their efforts to lure tourists and permanent residents. The biggest names in the game, such as Babe Ruth and Willie Mays, graced the sun-drenched diamonds across Florida each spring.

Willie Mays in St. Petersburg for spring training (ca. 1972)

Although several MLB teams have moved their spring training facilities to Arizona, Florida continues to host spring training and minor league baseball every season.

Brooklyn Dodgers in Vero Beach for spring training (ca. 1950)

Lindsey Responds:

Hey, wait a minute, Jon! You’re forgetting some very important ball players – the ladies of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1948, members of the Chicago Colleens, Fort Wayne Daisies, South Bend Blue Sox, Peoria Redwings, Rockford Peaches and Springfield Sallies participated in spring training exercises in Opa-locka, Florida; and the Florida Department of Commerce was there to capture it on film. Check it out!

Marie Wegman of the Fort Wayne Daisies arguing with umpire Norris Ward

All American Girls Professional Baseball League members performing calisthenics

Marg Callaghan sliding into home

Catcher Mary Rountree fields a fly ball

Found a great photo of spring training in Florida that we…err Jon missed? Post your favorite images in the comments.

Key West Sunsets from the Dale M. McDonald Collection

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Jon

Mallory Square (1979)

Smathers Beach (1988)

Fishing at the Navy Outer Mole (1988)

Sailing at dusk (1979)

Pelican silhouette (1983)

Before the 500: Daytona Beach Racing

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Jon

Before the big race moved inland to an asphalt track and became an American classic, drivers fulfilled their need for speed on the beaches of Central Florida.

The crowd assembles… (January 1952)

Gentlemen, start your engines! (ca. 1910)

Everybody gets pole position (January 14, 1905)

And they’re off! (February 1952)

Into the turn… (February 1952)

Watch out for wrecks! (February 1952)

And the winner is… Edward Knowles Rayson! (1947)

BONUS PHOTO!

Richard Petty and friends (February 1971)

What’s your favorite Daytona 500 photo? Share it with us in the comments.

Put Me In, Coach!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Beth

In a tradition a century old, major league baseball teams are reporting to spring training camps in Florida (the Grapefruit League) and Arizona (the Cactus League) to prepare for the upcoming season.

Babe Ruth in a spring training game: Miami, Florida, March 16, 1920

Cleveland Indians spring training: Lakeland, Florida, between 1924-1927

Batting practice at Brooklyn Dodgers training camp in Vero Beach, between March 22-24, 1949

Spring training game in Lakeland, Florida, March 1967

Florida Marlins spring training game, 1993

Houston Astros spring training game in Kissimmee, Florida, 1980s

Daytona in the 1920s

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Jon

Enjoy a few of our favorite photos of Daytona in the 1920s.

Daytona Highlands Home (1925)

Family at the beach (1923)

Looking west near City Island Field (1925)

Sir Henry Segrave in the Gold Arrow (1929)

Mary McLeod Bethune with the graduating class (1928)

See more photos of Daytona in the 1920s.

Pensacola at the Turn of the 20th Century

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Jon

Enjoy some of our favorite photos of Pensacola in the early 1900s.

Pensacola Fire Department (1903)

Mounted Patrol during the streetcar strike (April 1908)

Pensacola Harbor (1903)

Palafox Street (ca. 1910)

Consolidated Grocery Company at the Citizens National Bank (1906)

Found a great photo of Pensacola at the turn of the 20th century that we missed? Share it with us in the comments.

Seminole County’s 100th

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Jon

2013 marks the 100 year anniversary of the founding of Seminole County. On April 25, 1913, Seminole County was carved out of Orange County. Enjoy a few of our favorite images of Seminole County’s people, places and events.