Tracking the Voices Behind the Stories

Elwood Folse | WUWF 88.1 | Week 7

Following last week’s interview, I’ve shifted my focus to identifying and cataloging the notable characters that appear in our data points. Each time someone makes a claim—whether it’s a man recalling his parents escaping Fort Pickens through a tunnel, or a woman whose family helped make the bricks used in local structures—I take note of their names and stories.

These individuals, while sometimes offering fragmented or unverifiable accounts, contribute layers of texture to the story we’re trying to tell. Over time, this list of characters will help us shape the eventual podcast narrative, providing voices that bring the research to life.

Terry Strickland has shared his vision for the podcast’s story arc: one that slowly builds tension, reveals threads of information, and ultimately offers a few answers—while leaving us with even more questions. It’s not about solving a mystery outright, but about showing the depth of the local lore and the persistence of these oral histories.

As we work, I’ve started developing a better sense of what makes a source—or a character—stand out. Here’s a short tip list I’ve put together for anyone trying to identify credible or compelling characters when researching stories like ours:

Tips for Identifying Credible and Compelling Sources:

• Check for Specificity: Do they give names, dates, or physical descriptions, or do they speak in vague terms?

• Assess Consistency: Does their story hold up over time or across multiple tellings?

• Look for First-Hand Experience: Were they present, or are they repeating something second- or third-hand?

• Gauge Motivation: Are they sharing to inform, or are they seeking recognition or pushing a personal narrative?

• See if They Connect Dots: Do they reference known places, events, or people mentioned by others in your research?

Every voice we gather adds another thread to the web we’re trying to untangle. Some may lead nowhere, but others might just bring us closer to the deeper truths hiding in the legends.