This past weekend, members of the Florida Humanities Council traveled to Apalachicola for a prearranged educational tour of our area and City. Anita Grove, Executive Director of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce arranged for the tour several months ago and facilitated the group’s weekend visit.According to their website, “the Florida Humanities Council is dedicated to building strong communities and informed citizens by providing Floridians with the opportunity to explore the heritage, traditions and stories of our state and its place in the world.”
The group arrived in town late Thursday, Oct 16, and setup their headquarters at the Gibson Inn and from there proceeded to tour the area and the City of Apalachicola.
Guides from the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve provided the group with a tour of the Apalachicola River and the site of Historic Fort Gadsden aka “Negro Fort”. They met with local beekeeper George Watkins and Tommy Ward, owner of 13 Mile Oyster Company and learned the process of harvesting Tupelo Honey and Apalachicola Bay Oysters.
Bill Spohrer, President of the Apalachicola Historical Society, and Anita Grove, lead the group on a tour of Historic Apalachicola, while local TV personality Dolores Roux, guided the group on an excursion through Chestnut Street Cemetery.
The Council wrapped up their visit with a Q&A session, which included a panel made up of Michael Jepson, Ph. D., with the Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Anita Grove, and myself. The Q&A session centered on the group’s visit, and how City Officials plan to maintain Apalachicola’s identity and sense of community, while battling the reduction of freshwater flowing down the ACF River Basin, high fuel prices and a host of other major concerns facing this small community.
Members of the group stated that they reside in communities that once resembled the uniqueness of Apalachicola, but over the years have undergone major transformations brought on by the push for undesired development.
Afterward, some of the group members pleaded with me not to let Apalachicola lose its historic charm, and I agreed.
My husband and I traveled to Apalachicola from West Palm Beach for the Gathering. What a warm, wonderful, congenial community and we look forward to returning. You spoiled us and we loved it. Thank you Apalachicola for maintaining and sharing what is lost in most cities. A special thank you to all of the local residents who made our visit so memorable. There is value in being forgotten.
ReplyDeleteMy visit to [the roots of ] Apalachicola was an experience to remember. Those who gave freely of their time to make this weekend for the Florida Humanities Council people exerience life as the natives do was appreciated. I'll be sharing my experience with others for many years. My thanks to all who participated, shared, and experienced this waterfront community and made Apalachicola come "alive" are commended for their efforts.
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