Terry Dean

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Florida's Forgotten Coast

Description

Florida's Forgotten Coast oral history collection includes twenty-one interviews documenting the seafood industry in Franklin County, FL, with an emphasis on Apalachicola, plus two interviews relating to tupelo honey. Original Collection Housed at Archives & Special Collections at the University of Mississippi and online at www.southernfoodways.com.

Interviewer
Date of Interview
12-04-2005
Transcribers

Shelley Chance

Principal Investigator
Audio
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Terry Dean's grandmother, Monette Hicks, came to Eastpoint with her parents in 1916. Terry grew up listening to her grandmother's stories of what Eastpoint was like in the early days, when oysters were shucked in lean-tos on the shore, and there wasn't a thing on St. George Island, not even a bridge to get there. Electricity didn't arrive in Eastpoint until the 1950s. Still, dozens of seafood houses dotted the waterfront. In every family there was an oysterman, a shucker, or a crab picker, probably all three. Today, only a handful of seafood houses line the water's edge through Eastpoint. Terry works at a retail market called Island View Seafood. There, she cleans fish, bags oysters, and counts crabs. She has spent some time away from Florida, but she eventually ended up back in Eastpoint. To her, it will always be home.

Scope and Content Note
The interview conducted by Amy Evans with Terry Dean on December 4, 2005, in Eastpoint, Florida, covers various aspects of the fishing and seafood industry, as well as personal experiences and community dynamics. Terry Dean shares information about his family history, including his great-grandparents' settlement in the region. He discusses traditional oystering methods, the use of tools, and the introduction of machines. The interview touches on topics such as the impact of government regulations, changes in the industry, and concerns about the future of oystering. Terry also talks about the preparation and consumption of oysters, as well as other seafood dishes. He reflects on the identity of Florida and the challenges faced by the community due to external influences and changing dynamics. The interview provides insights into the history, challenges, and changes in the fishing and seafood industry in Eastpoint, as well as the impact on the local community and cultural traditions.


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