New History Series on WQCS

‘Florida Frontiers’ Attracts More Grant Funding The Jessie Ball DuPont Fund recently awarded $53,770 to the Florida Historical Society in support of the popular statewide radio program, “Florida Frontiers: The Weekly Magazine of the Florida Historical Society. Janie Gould of WQCS is assistant producer and a major contributor to the content of “Florida Frontiers.” Her Floridays pieces, which originally aired on WQCS and are accessible at wqcs.org, continue to be a staple of the half-hour show. “Florida Frontiers” is a combination of interview segments and pieces on history-based events, exhibits, activities, places and people in Florida. The show explores the relevance of Florida history to contemporary society and promotes awareness of heritage and cultural tourism options. Gould’s topics range from the hyper-local, such as a “mom and pop” dairy in Vero Beach, to the regional, including a man who is known as Palm Beach’s only “two-legged historic landmark,” and stories with a statewide focus, such as pieces on such historic sites as the Edison and Ford estates in Fort Myers. She has received awards for her work from the Florida Historical Society and Associated Press. “Florida Frontiers” is now heard on public radio stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Pensacola, and Melbourne, as well as WQCS. On WQCS, listen to it at 9 a.m. on HD2 or wqcs.org. The shows can be accessed any time at myfloridahistory.org.

WQCS Explores History Through Spoken Memories

Janie Gould hosts and produces “Floridays,” an award-winning weekly show that’s now in its fourth year.  She has interviewed a wide cross-section of Floridians about life in the Sunshine State, on such  topics as mullet migration, lobster harvesting, early television, colorful politicians, roadside oddities, cattle ranching, farming, home remedies and numerous other topics. “Floridays” airs every Friday at 7:20 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. on the radio at 88.9 FM or online at wqcs.org.  Past shows can be accessed by visiting the website and clicking on Audio Archive and then Programs. Gould produced “Road Map,” a series of shows about places to visit in Florida that are mostly off the beaten path, such as the Edison and Ford winter estates in Fort Myers; a Delray Beach botanical garden founded by Japanese settlers; a Treasure Coast landmark that was built when U.S. Grant was president, and others. The shows, with photos, are available at wqcs.org. Another series, “Hidden History,” explores interesting places on the Treasure Coast that often go unnoticed. One is the Breconshire, a British ship that sank off Vero’s beach more than a century ago. The tip of its mast is visible from the beach when the tide is low. The first post office dock in what is now Martin County was also featured on “Hidden History.” Another show highlighted an Army fort in present-day St. Lucie Village that dates back to the Seminole Wars. “Hidden History” segments, with photos, are available at wqcs.org. Janie Gould’s work is featured regularly in “Florida Frontiers,” a statewide show for public radio that is produced by the Florida Historical Society. The broadcast features evolved from WQCS’ oral-history project, which was begun in 2005. Using a specially equipped trailer, Gould traveled the Treasure Coast and interviewed nearly 300 people. She produced segments and specials about Florida’s Boom and Bust, killer hurricanes, war memories, and many other topics. Janie Gould is a member of the board of Vero Heritage, Inc., and the Florida Historical Society. She is a past president of the Indian River County Historical Society. She is also a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and is a charter member of a new local chapter of TRA.