The "Vanishing Culture Project" was a Florida Humanities Council grant to capture the oral histories of longtime residents of Cortez. The project also produced several stations about the folkways of the fishermen of Cortez that are placed around the village and a mural painted on the side of a prominent fish house in the community.
Raymond Stargell Pringle's family came to Cortez in 1919. In this interview, he talks about his father and fishing with him as a kid. Later, he became a minister.
This recording is of a Tidy Island Museum tour by Goose Culbreath, Alcee Taylor and others, discussing the history of the island, off Cortez, and family outings there.
Goose Culbreath and members of the Cortez Grand Old Opry play Bluegrass music. The interview includes both playing and talking about the music. Other members are Rich Culbreath and Ray Bach.
Orrie Williams' family has been in Cortez since 1905. His father had fish house and Orrie drove truck for him. Williams talks about his family in Cortez, the Burton store and the 1921 hurricane.
In this interview, Rita Warden, discusses her family history; they migrated to Florida from Canada. Though not a Cortez fisherman, Rita's husband was a carpenter and farmer in Michigan. They wintered in Cortez from 1938 on. She talks about trailer park living and her husband's fishing when here. Rita's husband did some shrimp netting too. They are friends with the Guthries, one of whom was a fisherman and bridge tender.
In this interview, Paul Taylor talks about his family, his fishing life, living in the Ilbion Inn and his views on fishing. Taylor's father came to Cortez from North Carolina.
Mr. Earl Taylor talks about his fishing history with others over the years. He quit when he was married and was a cook for a while before he came back to fishing.
