Cortez, FL

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Rita Warden Vanishing Culture Project

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.

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

This interview has two tracks, one an interview with Julian Culbreath and the other some music played on his fiddle with Leo Gale on guitar.  The interview discusses Culbreath's family history and fishing. Culbreath's family was musical.  A lot is about his musical career and the formation of The Cortez Grand Old Opry. The music tape has "The Cortez Rag" and "The Orange Blossom Special."

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

Commonly known as "Blue", Thomas Fulford talks about his fishing with "Tink" Fulford, fishing on the Anna Dean, growing up in Cortez, 'Hogging' stop netting, feud with gill netters, union formation attempts, net care and conflict with sport fishermen.

Michael Jepson, Wayne Nield Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Cortez Grand Old Opry Vanishing Culture Project

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.

Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Florida Humanities Council, Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, Florida Maritime Museum
Karen Bell Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries

Karen Bell is deeply rooted in the Cortez community, where she stands at the helm of A.P. Bell Fish Company, a family business with a rich history in the fishing industry. After attending college, she returned to lead the family enterprise. Bell's journey includes the acquisition of a restaurant, an endeavor that brought its own set of challenges, particularly in the wake of a net ban that affected sales.

Steve Marshall Cortez, FL NOAA-NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Manatee School for the Arts, Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez, A.P. Bell Fish Co., Inc., The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
John Campbell Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries

John Campbell, a resident of Cortez, Florida, has spent his life engaged in the profession of fishing, a trade that runs deep in his family lineage. His career on the water is not only a testament to his personal dedication but also serves as a living history of the fishing industry's evolution. Prior to his full immersion into fishing, Campbell served in the Army, an experience that stands as a distinct chapter in his life.

Steve Marshall Cortez, FL NOAA-NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Manatee School for the Arts, Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez, A.P. Bell Fish Co., Inc., The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
J.B. Crawford Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries

This interview with J.B. Crawford was conducted as part of the Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries Project. This project is a collection of oral histories of Cortez, Florida community members who are involved in maritime activities (such as commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, crew members, and fish house workers) in order to document the changing face of Cortez Village's marine environment.

Steve Marshall, Christina Package-Ward, Michael Jepson Cortez, FL NOAA-NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Manatee School for the Arts, Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez, A.P. Bell Fish Co., Inc., The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
Ken Jenkins Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries

This interview Ken Jenkins was conducted as part of the Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries Project. This project is a collection of oral histories of Cortez, Florida community members who are involved in maritime activities (such as commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, crew members, and fish house workers) in order to document the changing face of Cortez Village's marine environment.

Steve Marshall Cortez, FL NOAA-NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Manatee School for the Arts, Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez, A.P. Bell Fish Co., Inc., The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage
John McDonald Cortez Village Voices from the Fisheries

John McDonald, a native of Cortez, Florida, has a rich history rooted in the local fishing industry. Born into a family of fishermen, McDonald learned the trade from his father, spending his formative years on the waters around Mullet Key. His upbringing in Cortez was marked by a close connection to the sea and the community's maritime traditions. Seeking to broaden his horizons, McDonald enlisted in the Navy, where he acquired technical education and embraced the opportunity to travel.

Steve Marshall Cortez, FL NOAA-NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Manatee School for the Arts, Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez, A.P. Bell Fish Co., Inc., The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage