the cat gets carsick
tommyWhile reading over the BLAB the other day, I noticed a post about historic aerial photography over on My Florida History. The writer there, Lucy told us about the State University System of Florida Aerial Photography site. They have google maps before they were cool. Some from as far back as the 1930’s. After getting lost on that site for a while, I thought maybe we could learn a little more about Lucy and My Florida History. So let’s meet the blogger, huh?
Lucy D. Jones
My Florida History
myfloridahistory.blogspot.com
How did you come to live in Tampa Bay? I grew up in Texas, and it was quite a shock when I left Dallas for grad school at the University of Florida. But I married a Florida archaeologist, and began to appreciate the place. Then we lived in Alabama for a few years. I quit teaching and started working in cultural resource management before we loaded up the truck and moved to
Tampa. Altogether, I’ve lived in Florida for 14 years, the past nine in Tampa. We have family and friends in the Tampa Bay area. Sometimes we talk about moving, but the cat gets carsick.
What’s the best & worst thing about Tampa Bay? I enjoy Tampa Bay’s culturally diversity and the natural environment. There are some things that could be improved, but nothing so terrible that it deserves to be labeled the worst.
In which neighborhood do you live? We moved to Westchase a couple of years ago because there are neighborhood schools, lots of families with kids, and a convenient location. The best thing — people here are very community oriented. On the other hand, all the mailboxes on our street look the same. Hopefully, time will take care of that.
What is your blog about? It’s about Florida history, architecture, culture, or more generally, about what Florida is and has been. Ideas come from projects I’m working on, something I did over the weekend, or the news. I try to show connections between the past and the present. Many people here (like me) are not from Florida originally. Once you get know something about where you live, you begin to understand why it is the way it is, and figure out how you fit into the picture.
It [started as] an experiment and somewhat of a whim. In a broad sense, my work as a historical consultant depends on people caring about history. Before you care about something, you have to know it exists. I hope blogging, whether by me or by you or everyone else, will increase awareness of this state’s rich and varied heritage. That’s the experimental, public history reason I started My Florida History. Other reasons have to do with a personal need to write, tell stories, and share information.
I don’t think My Florida History is a finished product, so I can’t really say it is or is not a success. The blog has functioned well as a writer’s journal. I’ve learned about new modes of communication, and explored topics and viewpoints I otherwise might not have considered. Those are personal achievements, however. I don’t know yet if blogging will heighten public interest in history and heritage, but early returns are promising. The most difficult part is finding the time every day (ok, most days) to post something.
What’s the coolest thing you have ever done? I watched a comet from the top of an Indian mound. I saw the tiniest little seahorses in the Gulf off the Cedar Keys. Then there was Yellowstone, where the Earth bubbles up under your feet. And I’ve been to the Kentucky Derby – I’d do that again. I would like to see the Aurora Borealis someday.
Lucy has a historical research consulting company based in Tampa. Services include house histories, National Register nominations, and assistance with historic preservation grants. She can also help you with planning and development projects involving historic structures. Florida History, LLC (www.floridahistoryllc.com) tells the stories of Florida’s people and places.
Tags: blogs, history, meet the blogger, tampa
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