Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (May 13, 1929)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (May 13, 1929)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (May 13, 1929)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Citrus--Florida
Orange industry--Florida
Oranges--Florida
Mediterranean fruit-fly
Description
An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include Joshua's conversation with two foremen at Isleworth Grove, his subsequent telephone conversation with Dr. Camp, and proper precautionary measures to sanitize equipment likely infected by the Mediterranean fruit fly infestation.
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, May 13, 1929: 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
1929-05-13
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, May 13, 1929.
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
166 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
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.
"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
May 13, 1929.
Mr. S.O. Chase,
Sanford, Florida.
Dear Syd:
When the writer reached Isleworth this morning, he found two foremen there who were anxious to put a force in the grove to pick any fruit remaining on the trees. Crowell had driven them over a part of the grove north of the railroad, these two men were only able to locate one late bloom orange.
Upon my arrival they wanted to know about a force coming into the grove tomorrow morning with trucks,
the writer stated to these two men that the Isleworth
property was in Zone 2, and no foremen or crew with trucks operating in Zone 1, could come into property located in Zone 2. That in event Mr. Camp wished the trees cleaned it would be necessary for his to equip the force with suits that would have to be disinfected. Also that the men would have to have their shoes properly disinfected and that trucks could not enter the property as we would agree to haul and dispose of any fruit still found on the trees.
Upon reaching the office the writer telephoned Dr. Camp, who agreed to instruct the foreman not to make any effort to clean up Isleworth until he gave further orders. When done, all precautionary measures will be taken with the suits of foremen and workers.
Very truly yours,
JCC:AF.
Mr. S.O. Chase,
Sanford, Florida.
Dear Syd:
When the writer reached Isleworth this morning, he found two foremen there who were anxious to put a force in the grove to pick any fruit remaining on the trees. Crowell had driven them over a part of the grove north of the railroad, these two men were only able to locate one late bloom orange.
Upon my arrival they wanted to know about a force coming into the grove tomorrow morning with trucks,
the writer stated to these two men that the Isleworth
property was in Zone 2, and no foremen or crew with trucks operating in Zone 1, could come into property located in Zone 2. That in event Mr. Camp wished the trees cleaned it would be necessary for his to equip the force with suits that would have to be disinfected. Also that the men would have to have their shoes properly disinfected and that trucks could not enter the property as we would agree to haul and dispose of any fruit still found on the trees.
Upon reaching the office the writer telephoned Dr. Camp, who agreed to instruct the foreman not to make any effort to clean up Isleworth until he gave further orders. When done, all precautionary measures will be taken with the suits of foremen and workers.
Very truly yours,
JCC:AF.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (May 13, 1929),” RICHES, accessed April 23, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2734.