Interview with sponge diving helmet maker Anthony Lerios

Diving helmet maker

Arts, Greek

Greek Americans

Interviews

Sponge divers

Sponges

Life histories

Oral histories

Emigration and immigration

Helmets

Oral narratives

Sound recordings

Metal craft

Occupational groups

Apprentices

Three audio cassettes. Born 3 December 1902, Lerios was a Greek immigrant who made sponge diving helmets. He arrived in Tarpons Springs in 1913 to work in a machine shop. He soon owned his own, and made helmets. Also made and fixed engines and pumps. He also discussing making helmets, changes in the sponge industry, his health, training his grandson Nick Toth as an apprentice in helmet making, and local Greek culture. Nick Toth helped his grandfather throughout the interview. Continued on C89-24 and C89-35. Recorded at the Sponge Industry Folk Arts festival, festival sounds can be heard throughout. The festival was held June 24-25, 1989 to celebrate Tarpon Springs heritage of sponge diving, a practice that dated back to the 1890s. By 1905, when 500 Greek immigrants answered an ad to be sponge divers, the town acquired a distinctive Greek flavor, as the Greek Americans thrived in the sponge industry. At one point, Florida provided 95% of the nation's sponges. Although today over fishing and synthetic materials have undercut the sponge diving industry, the tradition lives on in Greek families, and through tourism.

State Archives of Florida, Series S1576

1989-06-25

Florida Folklife Program

sound recordings

audiocassettes

Sound

a_s1576_25_c89-023

S1576

C89-23

C89-24

C89-25

Sponge Industry Folk Arts Festival

Reddy, David

Michael, Nancy

Lerios, Anthony, 1892-1992

Toth, Nick

Greek American

mp3false

2403

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