Ku Klux Klan 120 Parades Sanford By Night
A newspaper article about a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) parade in Sanford, Florida, on December 5, 1921. The KKK was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877) in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second klan was reformed by William Joseph Simmons (1880-1945) in 1915. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green (1889-1949) revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry T.Moore's (1905-1951) Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active klans in the country.
Original newspaper article: "Ku Klux Klan 120 Parades Sanford By Night." December 5, 1921: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Landis, Fish & Hull (March 9, 1915)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and Landis, Fish & Hull. Topics discussed in the letter include the County Commissioners' meeting on March 8th, George A. DeCottes' legal advice, and disagreements about how to fund the completion of brick roads. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Landis, Fish & Hull, March 9, 1915: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Lucian Boggs (August 29, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavius Chase and Lucian Boggs of Barnett National Bank. Topics discussed in the letter include arranging to have Boggs handle some legal matters for the City of Sanford after he visit Sanford and meet with City Attorney George A. DeCottes. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Lucian Boggs, August 29, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Barnett National Bank Building, Jacksonville, Florida
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 29, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include deciding what attorney to use in Sanford and Ernest Amos' neglect of duty in his failure to inform the Chase brothers of the activities of the Seminole Bank. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 29, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (August 26, 1927)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include city bonds held by the Chase National Bank, securing the services of a legal firm in New York, and the possibility of the City of Sanford using George M. Powell for an attorney. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, August 26, 1927: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (January 5, 1923)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a paving bond for property in Sanford and the offer made by B. H. Barnett. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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.
Original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, January 5, 1923: box 173, folder 2.51, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Cary D. Landis, Esq. (December 6, 1921)
An original letter of correspondence between Sydney Octavious Chase and Cary D. Landis, Esq. Topics discussed in the letter include a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Sanford, rumors that the H. R. Stevens campaign was mobilizing African-American voters, and a satchel found in front of the Chase & Company office the evening of the demonstration. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. 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 Ku Klux Klan was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forest in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second Klan was reformed in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national Klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green of Atlanta revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry Tyson Moore's Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active Klans in the country.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Cary D. Landis, Esq.: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (December 6, 1921)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a copy of a letter to Cary D. Landis in regards to the Brevard County Road, a copy of a letter to Landis regarding a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Sanford on the eve of an election, a rumor that Forrest Lake arranged for the KKK to intimidate African-American voters, and movement of fruit at Isleworth Grove. Chase & Company was established by the brothers in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. 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. The Ku Klux Klan was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forest in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second Klan was reformed in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national Klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green of Atlanta revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry Tyson Moore's Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active Klans in the country.
Original letter from Sydney Octavius Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, December 6, 1921: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Office, Jacksonville, Florida
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (December 7, 1921)
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include copies of letters between Sydney, Cary D. Landis, and S. V. Stephens; a copy of Sydney's letter to Landis regarding the Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Sanford on the eve of an election; and a newspaper clipping from The Tampa Tribune on the KKK. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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. The Ku Klux Klan was first organized by ex-Confederate soldiers in in Tennessee in 1866, but was disbanded by the first Imperial Wizard Nathan Bedford Forest in 1869 in order to avoid government sanctions. The second Klan was reformed in 1915 by William J. Simmons. Although the KKK deteriorated nationally during the Great Depression, it still flourished in Florida until a $685,000 lien was filed against the national Klan in 1944 for back taxes from the 1920s. In 1948, Dr. Samuel Green of Atlanta revived the KKK in Georgia, which spread to Florida and other states. In 1951, the Florida KKK responded violently to the activities of Harry Tyson Moore's Progressive Voters' League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during a period dubbed "The Florida Terror." As of the early 2000s, the Florida KKK remained to be on of the more active Klans in the country.
Original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, December 7, 1921: box 173, folder 2.36, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
President Calvin Coolidge Visits Sanford
President Calvin Coolidge receiving citrus fruit while visiting Sanford, Florida, in 1929. Sydney Octavius Chase, co-owner of Chase & Company, is photographed on the right, wearing a light suit. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original black and white photographs, February 1, 1929: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 215, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The James Edmundson Ingraham House, located at South Sanford Avenue in Sanford, Florida. James Edmundson Ingraham was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, and is historically known as an entrepreneur and railroad company executive. In 1874, he moved to Florida and spent most of his career working with Henry Shelton Sanford, Henry Flagler, and Henry Plant. In 1892, he conducted a survey for the Plant railroad; he started in Fort Myers, traveled through the Everglades, and ended in Miami. It was during this expedition that Ingraham worked with Sydney Octavius Chase, a close personal friend. Ingraham was employed by Flagler from 1892 through 1897, and then served as land commissioner for the Florida East Coast Railway from 1897 to 1899. He then served as president of Flagler's Model Land Company, as well as an officer of several of Flagler's smaller land companies. Ingraham promoted land sales and thus influenced growth of various Florida towns. He died on October 25, 1924.
COriginal black and white photograph by W. H. Walmsley: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 215, folder 3.27, item CC94, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
James Edmundson Ingraham House, Sanford, Florida
Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase at the Chase & Company Office in Sanford
Brothers and business partner Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase in front of the Company office, located at 110 West First Street in Sanford, in 1895. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by the Chase brothers. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph, December 16, 1895: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101, item CC9, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Staff with Sydney Octavius Chase
Postcard showing the Chase & Company staff at the Sanford office, located at 110 West First Street, in 1918. Photographed from left to right is bookkeeper Wess Hayden, stenographer Segros Velelen "Wes Huetes," stenographer Mrs. Cox, business co-owner Sydney Octavius Chase, and William A. Leffler. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original black and white postcard, May 1918: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.101, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sales Department staff at Chase & Company office, located at 110 West First Street in Sanford, Florida, around 1910. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101, item CC16, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford, Florida, in 1936. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by A. Wieboldt, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101,item CC15, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Chase & Company building near the railroad in Sanford, Florida, on March 3, 1936. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by A. Wieboldt, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101, item CC14, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Workers bathing at a Chase & Company picnic on March 3, 1936 in Sanford, Florida. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 3 x 5 black and white photograph by A. Wieboldy, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.102, item CC31, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Sanford Packing House Before Fire
The Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford, Florida before being destroyed by fire. The building was rebuilt in 1908. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.105, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford Before Fire
The interior of the Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford before it was destroyed by fire. The building was rebuilt in 1908. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Truck at Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford
Chase & Company packing house in Sanford in 1936. CChase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. 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.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photographs by A. Wieboldt, March 30, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 8.18D, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Fourth of July Celebration Along Commercial Street in Sanford
Fourth of July celebrations along Commercial Street in 1886. The large building on the right is the Sanford House Hotel, which was built by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories - two of which included porches- and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel's landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, July 4, 1886: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Steamship Osceola at a dock in Sanford sometime between 1913 and 1928. The steamer was built in 1913 at Jacksonville's Merill Stevens Shipyard for the Clyde Line Steamboat Company. The ship was captained by T.W. Lund and ran between Jacksonville and Sanford (a 140 mile trip) and could carry 60 passengers plus cargo. The ship was unusual in its design, with a recessed stern wheel that was enclosed within the hull of the ship. It was tied to an abandoned wharf and left to rot on the Northbank of Jacksonville in 1928.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Looking Southwest from First Street and Palmetto Avenue
Looking southwest from the intersection of East First Street and North Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When Henry Shelton Sanford purchased land in central Florida, he developed citrus groves known as the Belair Groves and Experimental Gardens. The citrus industry of the 1870s was gaining interest nationally because of the success, and potential international success as well. Sydney Chase, Sr. of Pennsylvania found magazines and newspapers articles that there were great fortunes to be made in Florida in the citrus industry. Chase moved to Sanford, Florida in 1878, where he began working for Henry S. Sanford at the Belair Groves and Experimental Gardens. After learning the trade with his experience with Sanford, Chase and his brother Joshua created the Chase & Company in 1884. They began selling fertilizer and fire insurance to other citrus and produce growers. After making enough money, the Chase brothers bought their own citrus groves two years later. The Chase family and their business helped boost the citrus industry in Florida, especially in Sanford. They were so successful, other citrus growers from the state were asking for their help to sell their products. In high demand for help, the brothers began to build packinghouses. Not only was the citrus industry growing in Florida and throughout the United States, Sydney Chase took the industry global by traveling abroad to market their company and what Sanford had to offer.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, item CC 122, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
First Street Looking West from Sanford Avenue on the 4th of July
In 1870, a lawyer from Connecticut by the name of Henry Sanford purchased 12,548 acres of open land west of Mellonville. His vision was to make this new land a major port city, both railway and by water. Sitting on Lake Monroe, and the head of the St. Johns River, the city of Sanford earned the nickname of “The Gate City of South Florida.” Sanford became not only a transportation hub, but a leading citrus industry in Florida, and eventually globally. This image of First Street looking west from Sanford Avenue was taken on July 4, 1886, when businesses were developing and families were settling. However, in the following year, disaster and devastation hit the city of Sanford in the form of fires, freezes, and disease. In September of 1887, a bakery on on First Street caught fire, which lead to the rapid spread through other wooden buildings, eventually causing the east side of Sanford to disappear in devastation. Luckily, rebuilding began immediately with brick structures, rather than the flammable wood. This photo can provide an idea of what life was like during the 1880s in Sanford, and how quickly it can be destroyed.
Burning $1,572,650 Worth of Cancelled Bonds
The burning of canceled bonds from Mayor Forrest Lake's (1869-1939) on January 5, 1932. Before this scandal surfaced, Lake was considered an accomplished politician, who was elected eleven times, and helped create Seminole County. However, the pace of Mayor Forrest’s run turned sour when an article in the The Sanford Herald wrote an article with false facts about Lake’s use of city funds. According to the article, Lake sold "previously unsellable city bonds at a price of more than 95 percent of their face value; in reality, it was less than 90 percent. Lake was indicted following the investigation. It was proven that Lake sold the bonds for less, which caused the city to lose money, and he used illegal loans for personal use. This caused the city of Sanford to fall into $1,000,000 in debt, an increase in property tax, salary cuts, and cuts to public city services, such as the police department. After being sentenced for sixteen years, the City of Sanford protested Lake’s actions by burning over $1.5 million worth of cancelled bonds. Ex-Mayor Forrest Lake’s reputation has been tarnished, and today in Sanford, is considered to be “Sanford’s forgotten mayor.”
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photographs by Chase & Company, January 5, 1932: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
Steamboats--Florida--St. Johns River--History
A dock in Sanford, Florida in 1934. Sanford's location on the shore of Lake Monroe played a significant role in the growth of the city as a commercial hub. Lake Monroe is a part of the St. Johns River which served as a commercial highway through central Florida before the railroads were built. Steamships carrying essential goods would travel up and down the St. Johns River and dock at piers in small towns along the way. Henry Sanford purchased the land for the city in 1870 and from the start he saw the potential for the site to become an important transportation location, saying that the new city would be the Gate City of South Florida. Throughout the 1870's and early 1880's commercial steamboats played a significant role in the development of Sanford. Henry Sanford encouraged investment in the growing town and formed a land company based in London to bring in new investors. Also during 1880 construction started on the South Florida Railroad. The line was to have a stop in Sanford and would help to continue to develop the city as a commercial center. The town grew prosperous from this business which led to the establishment of several wharves, a railroad station and a hotel. With the introduction of the railroad steamships became less important to the commercial business in Sanford, but the city was already established as a center for distribution. In 1913 Sanford was named the county seat to the newly formed Seminole County.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, May 31, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, item 117, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sanford House Hotel Park, adjoining the Sanford House Hotel, overlooked the waterfront of Lake Monroe at Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1934. The hotel was built by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories – two of which included porches – and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, May 31, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 116, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Intersection at Second Street and Oak Street
The intersection of Second Street and Oak Street in Sanford, Florida in 1884. When General Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1884: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 114, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Sanford, Florida after the Great Fire of 1887. On September 27, 1887, "The Big Fire" burned and damaged the majority of the east side of Sanford. The fire began at Altree's Bakery on First Street and quickly spread through the wooden buildings in the city. The Sanford Fire Department helped extinguish the fire. Buildings such as the Sanford House Hotel were spared by placing wet blankets on the roof. Many of those buildings that were destroyed in the fire were immediately rebuilt using brick.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 109, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 108, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Former building at First Street and Magnolia Avenue prior to the construction of the N.P. Yowell and Garner Woodruff Buildings. The building was named after Fort Reid, which was established by Colonel William Harney on July 7, 1840. Colonel Harney named the fort after Robert Raymond Reid, the fourth Territorial Governor of Florida. "Reed" is another common spelling used in Sanford. Newton P. Yowell first came to Central Florida in 1884 with his family. Nine years after arriving in Florida, Yowell borrowed money from his mother and friends and opened a dry goods store. Shortly after Yowell opened his store in Sanford, the freeze of 1894-1895 hit the community hard. Even though crops were damaged and many people left Sanford, the Yowell Store remained open and survived the hard economic times. After the freeze, Yowell began construction on a new two-story brick building that would become the new store.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The intersection of First Street and Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sanford Hotel House Park in Sanford, Florida in 1880. The Sanford House Hotel was built by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories – two of which included porches – and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1880: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item No. 4, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. Original 5 x 7 inch black and white postcard: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC , Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
First Street Between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue
First Street between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered. Also pictured in the photograph was the Sanford General Store, founded by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) in March 1871. The store was created with hopes of bolstering the success of the Sanford Sawmill, opened the year prior. The creation of the store was the result of advising offered to Sanford by Edwin Eastman. Eastman advised that a general store would be the surest way to improve profitability of the ailing sawmill, as mill employees would be paid goods from the store. The general store’s initial years of operation were plagued by problems. The store suffered from periodic shortages of crucial supplies and local farmers, faced with poor agricultural production, had a difficult time turning their produce into the cash needed to purchase goods. The only way Sanford proved able to ensure consistent sales was through the extension of credit to local settlers. This approach proved untenable, however, as impoverished customers proved unable to pay their debts to the store. In January 1873, the store was owed $4,000 by delinquent customers, a number that ballooned to $25,000 by early 1879. As Sanford’s personal financial state suffered, maintaining the stock of groceries became increasingly difficult. By March 1879, Sanford, unable to continue the operation of the general store, disposed of the remaining supplies and leased the building, alongside the wharf and its attached warehouse, for three years terms at $550 per year. At the time that this photograph was taken in 1881, the store was being operated by Michael J. Doyle, an immigrant from Ireland and originally settled in Volusia County prior to the Civil War.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item No. 1, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, Florida, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered. The businesses and docks located at Palmetto Avenue were important locations for commerce and business. Also pictured in the photograph is the Sanford General Store, founded by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) in March 1871. The store was created with hopes of bolstering the success of the Sanford Sawmill, opened the year prior. The creation of the store was the result of advising offered to Sanford by Edwin Eastman. Eastman advised that a general store would be the surest way to improve profitability of the ailing sawmill, as mill employees would be paid goods from the store. The general store’s initial years of operation were plagued by problems. The store suffered from periodic shortages of crucial supplies and local farmers, faced with poor agricultural production, had a difficult time turning their produce into the cash needed to purchase goods. The only way Sanford proved able to ensure consistent sales was through the extension of credit to local settlers. This approach proved untenable, however, as impoverished customers proved unable to pay their debts to the store. In January 1873, the store was owed $4,000 by delinquent customers, a number that ballooned to $25,000 by early 1879. As Sanford’s personal financial state suffered, maintaining the stock of groceries became increasingly difficult. By March 1879, Sanford, unable to continue the operation of the general store, disposed of the remaining supplies and leased the building, alongside the wharf and its attached warehouse, for three years terms at $550 per year.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1878: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item no. 6, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Live oak trees along Mellonville Avenue in the early 1900s. In 1836, the United States Army built a road (present-day Mellonville Avenue) to a location called Camp Monroe during the Second Seminole War. One year later, a group of Seminoles attacked the camp and killed a Captain Charles Mellon. A fort was built on the former campsite and named after the fallen captain, Fort Mellon. After the Seminole Wars and Florida becoming a state in 1845, the new town of Mellonville was established where it became the gateway for people wanting to settle in the Florida wilderness.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 106, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Steamboats--Florida--Saint Johns River--History
Backside of Steamship Osceola, which was built in 1913 at Jacksonville's Merill Stevens Shipyard for the Clyde Line Steamboat Company. The ship was captained by T.W. Lund and ran between Jacksonville and Sanford (a 140 mile trip) and could carry 60 passengers plus cargo. The ship was unusual in its design, with a recessed stern wheel that was enclosed within the hull of the ship. It was tied to an abandoned wharf and left to rot on the Northbank of Jacksonville in 1928.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 104, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Steamship Osceola along the St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida in the early 1900s. Osceola was built in 1913 at Jacksonville's Merill Stevens Shipyard for the Clyde Line Steamboat Company. The ship was captained by T.W. Lund and ran between Jacksonville and Sanford (a 140 mile trip) and could carry 60 passengers plus cargo. The ship was unusual in its design, with a recessed stern wheel that was enclosed within the hull of the ship. It was tied to an abandoned wharf and left to rot on the Northbank of Jacksonville in 1928.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 102, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.