Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (December 1, 1927)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (December 1, 1927)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (December 1, 1927)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Citrus--Florida
Labor--Florida
Packing industry
Packing industry
Description
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the unsatisfactory results of the piece system of paying workers and fruit packing at Isleworth Grove and Wiley Avenue.
Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Creator
Chase, Joshua Coffin
Source
Original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, December 1, 1927: box 49, folder 20.91, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1927-12-01
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, December 1, 1927.
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, December 1, 1927.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.91, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Isleworth Collection, Citrus Collection, Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Isleworth Collection, Citrus Collection, Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Is Referenced By
Folder referenced in Chase Collection finding guide, http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
142 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Entire Chase Collection is comprised of four separate accessions from various donors, including Cecilia Johnson, the granddaughter of Joshua Coffin Chase, and the children of Randall Chase.
Rights Holder
The displayed collection item is housed at Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Rights to this item belong to the said institution, and therefore inquiries about the item should be directed there. RICHES of Central Florida has obtained permission from Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida to display this item for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Special and Area Studies Collections, University of Florida
Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida
Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
University of Florida, Special and Area Studies Collections
External Reference
Warner, S.C. "Development of Marketing Citrus Fruits in Florida." Florida State Horticultural Society vol. 36 (1923): 198-200.
Hopkins, James T. Fifty Years of Citrus, the Florida Citrus Exchange: 1909-1959. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press: 1960.
"Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=960.
"Sydney Chase Sr. (1860-1941)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=600.
Transcript
December 1, 1927.
Mr. S. O. Chase,
Sanford, Fla.
Dear Syd:-
ISLEWORTH PACKING. The class of work turned out under piece system is not satisfactory if we are to continue to count on auction support. Competitors with no better fruit are putting out a more attractive pack. Hutchinson does not appear to be inclined to insist on his packers putting the necessary touches on the wrap and the pack that is necessary if we are to continue to get top notch prices for our fruit. It may be necessary to pay the packers on a day basis and insist that they turn out the work done in a manner satisfactory to us, and not expect them to put out more than 30 or 35 boxes per day. With a little extra expense on grading and a little extra expense on packing, we an more than get back out of the additional money we will realize on the sale of fruit. All of the fruit that is packed should have the paper pulled tight, smooth, and with a tight twist. If you will go into the packing houses of the American Fruit Growers and some of the other shippers who cater to auction, you will find that they are turning out a more attractive looking pack than we are. You do not have to take my word for it but can ask Rinck, or anyone else who puts in some of his time in these other houses. This is a matter we should handle together, so there will be no conflict of wishes.
The same applies to Wiley Avenue. Eubank is all right to get out a pack in a hurry but he is absolutely no good when it comes to fixing up a car for auction.
Yours,
JCC:H
Mr. S. O. Chase,
Sanford, Fla.
Dear Syd:-
ISLEWORTH PACKING. The class of work turned out under piece system is not satisfactory if we are to continue to count on auction support. Competitors with no better fruit are putting out a more attractive pack. Hutchinson does not appear to be inclined to insist on his packers putting the necessary touches on the wrap and the pack that is necessary if we are to continue to get top notch prices for our fruit. It may be necessary to pay the packers on a day basis and insist that they turn out the work done in a manner satisfactory to us, and not expect them to put out more than 30 or 35 boxes per day. With a little extra expense on grading and a little extra expense on packing, we an more than get back out of the additional money we will realize on the sale of fruit. All of the fruit that is packed should have the paper pulled tight, smooth, and with a tight twist. If you will go into the packing houses of the American Fruit Growers and some of the other shippers who cater to auction, you will find that they are turning out a more attractive looking pack than we are. You do not have to take my word for it but can ask Rinck, or anyone else who puts in some of his time in these other houses. This is a matter we should handle together, so there will be no conflict of wishes.
The same applies to Wiley Avenue. Eubank is all right to get out a pack in a hurry but he is absolutely no good when it comes to fixing up a car for auction.
Yours,
JCC:H
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (December 1, 1927),” RICHES, accessed May 29, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2769.