Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Brockelman Brothers (January 30, 1928)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Brockelman Brothers (January 30, 1928)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (January 30, 1928)
Subject
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Citrus--Florida
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Orange industry--Florida
Oranges--Florida
Grapefruit--Florida
Grapefruit industry
Description
An original letter of correspondence between Joshua Coffin Chase and Brockelman Brothers, Inc. Topics discussed in the letter include the Brockelman magazine Broadcaster issue about Isleworth Grove, additional mention of the Isleworth oranges and grapefruit in future issues, the injury of the company's contracted aerial photographer and subsequent need to find a replacement, and the pineapple orange.
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 Brockelman Brothers, January 30, 1928: box 49, folder 20.84, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1928-01-30
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Brockelman Brothers, January 30, 1928.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.84, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, 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
192 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Spatial Coverage
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics 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
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.
Transcript
Chase Correspondence, Box 49, folder 20.84
Jan. 30th, 1928.
Brockelman Bros., Inc.,
Fitchburg, Mass.
Gentlemen:-
This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of Jan. 29th, enclosing your little magazine entitled “Broadcaster”, which is certainly a splendid medium to place your goods before the consumers. In event future issues of the magazine make any mention of Isleworth oranges or grapefruit, we would very much appreciate a copy.
You will regret to learn that the aerial photographer who was under contract to make a photograph of Isleworth Groves was badly injured last Friday, making it necessary to amputate his right foot. Just as soon as the partners can secure another man to take his place, the photograph will be made.
We note you are interested in our pineapple oranges. This is the most highly colored orange grown in Florida and derived its name originally from the fact that when the fruit is ripe it creates the aroma that the original grower thought resembled that of the pineapple and this gave it the name of the pineapple orange. This is a variety that is usually moved after the midseason fruit is shipped and just before we start moving our valencias. In some districts the pineapple orange matures more early and beings to reach the markets in late December or early January. All of the high priced Indian River oranges you will find are catalogues as of the pineapple variety. In even you can use additional supplies of Isleworth oranges or grapefruit, it will give us great pleasure to quote you prices through our Mr. Shallow.
Yours very truly,
CHASE INVESTMENT CO.,
JCC:H
Jan. 30th, 1928.
Brockelman Bros., Inc.,
Fitchburg, Mass.
Gentlemen:-
This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of Jan. 29th, enclosing your little magazine entitled “Broadcaster”, which is certainly a splendid medium to place your goods before the consumers. In event future issues of the magazine make any mention of Isleworth oranges or grapefruit, we would very much appreciate a copy.
You will regret to learn that the aerial photographer who was under contract to make a photograph of Isleworth Groves was badly injured last Friday, making it necessary to amputate his right foot. Just as soon as the partners can secure another man to take his place, the photograph will be made.
We note you are interested in our pineapple oranges. This is the most highly colored orange grown in Florida and derived its name originally from the fact that when the fruit is ripe it creates the aroma that the original grower thought resembled that of the pineapple and this gave it the name of the pineapple orange. This is a variety that is usually moved after the midseason fruit is shipped and just before we start moving our valencias. In some districts the pineapple orange matures more early and beings to reach the markets in late December or early January. All of the high priced Indian River oranges you will find are catalogues as of the pineapple variety. In even you can use additional supplies of Isleworth oranges or grapefruit, it will give us great pleasure to quote you prices through our Mr. Shallow.
Yours very truly,
CHASE INVESTMENT CO.,
JCC:H
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Brockelman Brothers (January 30, 1928),” RICHES, accessed April 26, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2700.