Florida Lore

From the Ashley Gang to the Devil’s Millhopper and the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, Florida folk culture is brimming with fascinating characters and situations almost too amazing to be true. But are they true? This presentation is a dynamic performance from a master storyteller and professor who brings these legends to life and discusses their importance and whether it may not matter if they are fact or fiction. A must for history buffs and Americana fans, this presentation is based on Dr. Caren S. Neile’s book Florida Lore: The Barefoot Mailman, Cowboy Bone Mizell, the Tallahassee Witch, and Other Tales.

Caren S. Neile, Ph.D., M.F.A., has taught storytelling studies at Florida Atlantic University for 20 years. A performing storyteller, she has worked in 10 states and six countries, including as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Vienna and Jerusalem. Dr. Neile’s publications include the books Florida Lore and Only in Florida and a chapter in the Oxford Encyclopedia of American Folk and Folklife Studies. She co-hosts the Public Storyteller segment on Miami public radio WLRN.

This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and the Historical Society of Avon Park. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the aforementioned entities.