Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (October 3, 1924)

Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (October 3, 1924)

Chase Correspondence (October 3, 1924)

Windermere (Fla.)

Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941

Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948

Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)

Citrus fruit industry--Florida

Citrus--Florida

Grapefruit industry

Grapefruit

An original letter of correspondence between brothers and business partners Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include the size, maturity, and quality of Isleworth grapefruit in comparison to grapefruit being shipped by the Manatee Fruit Company; the consumption of juice; and the inability of the authorities to end the Manatee Fruit Company's shipments.

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, Joshua Coffin

Original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, October 3, 1924: box 49, folder 20.84, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

1924-10-03

Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, October 3, 1924.

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.

Folder referenced in Chase Collection finding guide, http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.

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190 KB

1-page typewritten letter

eng

Text

Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida

Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida

Donation

History Teacher

Economics Teacher

Geography Teacher

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.

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.

Special and Area Studies Collections, University of Florida

Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida

Cepero, Laura

University of Florida, Special and Area Studies Collections

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.

Oct 3 1924

Mr. S. O. Chase.
Sanford, Florida.

Dear Syd:-

This will acknowledge yours of the 7th, and note all you have to say. There is no question in my mind but what the Isleworth grapefruit is better in size, maturity and quality than the grapefruit now being shipped by the Manatee Fruit Company. Mouser is of the same opinion, and expressed himself when here this morning of taking the matter up with Mayo to see if a permit could not be issued to have it move under the color scheme if it did not qualify under the color scheme if it did not qualify under the test. Unless we can realize on these large sizes they will soon become unmerchantable.

We both know that large sizes full of juice are wanted early in the season and not wanted late in the season. A little sugar will very readily overcome the excess acidity. Grapefruit are eaten by adults and do not go to children, babies or invalids. Consequently it is not absolutely important to have the early fruit as sweet as the late fruit.

The authorities do not appear to have the ability to put a stop to the shipments of the Manatee Fruit Company and we do not believe they could touch Isleworth if we conform to the color scheme and do not artificially color. This would make it necessary to use the utmost care in picking. I certainly would like to move five or ten thousand boxes of this fruit on the present market if there is any way it can be done.

Your very truly,

JCC/FS

1-page typewritten letter