Robert Croft, president of the Citrus County Historical Society, recently presented “A Taste of Citrus County” at the museum’s Coffee & Conversation in May. Croft, a local historian and descendant of the pioneering Croft family who settled in Hernando in the 1880s, shared stories of growing up in Citrus County, cooking with his mama, collecting oysters in Ozello, and making sugar cane syrup with the family.
The Florida Foodways: A Taste Through Time exhibit is on display in the John Murray Davis Gallery at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in downtown Inverness. The museum is open, free of charge, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Croft discussed the Croft family’s tradition of oystering at Ozello, south of Crystal River, during the winter months. He explained that his father knew when the phases of the moon were right and the winds were from the correct direction to drive the water from the marshes in Ozello and expose the oyster beds.
As the Croft family headed to Ozello, they would stop at a fish market at the edge of Crystal River, where Croft’s mother would buy oysters or mullet for dinner. His father would also cut down two cabbage palms, trim them up, and prepare them for Croft’s mother to cook swamp cabbage. The family would bring a pot and cook the swamp cabbage, which was a staple in their diet.
Croft’s presentation was part of the Coffee & Conversation series at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. The museum is located at 1 E. Main St., Inverness, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
