Cortez, FL

Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Raymond S. Pringle, Jr. & Raymond S. Pringle, Sr. Vanishing Culture Project

Oral history interview with father and son, Raymond Stargill Pringle, Jr. and Sr.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Raymond Guthrie Vanishing Culture Project

In this interview, Raymond Guthrie discusses his family history and fishing experiences.  He did seine fishing and stop netting. Guthrie talks about animosity from other fishermen.  He fished and did mowing work, and some boat building.
 

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Ralph Fulford Vanishing Culture Project

Ralph Fulford is the son of 'Tink" Fulford, a fisherman, who had the Dixie Fish Co. and later the Fulford Fish Co.  Ralph ran the fish house from 1946 on.  He talks about the processing and operation of a fish house.  Also, he discusses his part in founding the Cortez Historical Society. 

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield , Al C. Taylor Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Paul Taylor Vanishing Culture Project

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.  

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Paul Moore A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Paul Moore is a local Cortez stone crabber. Moore has been fishing and stone crabbing in the Cortez area since the 1970s. Moore started stone crabbing in 1980, joining his family's stone crab restaurant business. He primarily worked on crab and lobster boats for the first 15 years after high school. He began running his own boat in 1991.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Orie Williams Vanishing Culture Project

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. 

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Nate Meschelle A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Nate Meschelle is a young commercial fisherman based out of Cortez. Nate embarked on a full-time fishing career at a young age, honing his skills in various fisheries such as lady fish, jack, and pompano. He is not only experienced in navigating the waters and understanding the ecosystem but also an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable fishing practices, actively engaging in activities like clam release and promoting initiatives to mitigate the impact of human activities on marine life.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Mike Davis A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Mike Davis is a commercial fisherman residing in Cortez.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Marvin Carver Vanishing Culture Project

This interview with Marvin Carver covers family, fishing, fish camps and net spreads. He also had a bridge tender's job in Cortez.

 Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Mark Taylor Vanishing Culture Project

Oral history interview with Mark Taylor.

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
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