Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Mrs. Sydney Octavius Chase (April 26, 1928)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Mrs. Sydney Octavius Chase (April 26, 1928)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (April 26, 1928)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Buildings--Florida
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Construction
Description
An original letter of correspondence between Joshua Coffin Chase and Sydney Octavius Chase's wife. Topics discussed in the letter include an enclosed letter from Mrs. George S. Hill, lumber estimates for Hill's request to modify a school building, and utilizing a supervisor from Isleworth Grove for the project.
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 Mrs. Sydney Octavius Chase, April 26, 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
1928-04-26
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Mrs. Sydney Octavius Chase, April 26, 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
151 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Chase & Company Office, Orlando, Florida
Windermere, Florida
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History 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
"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
CHASE & CO.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
April 26, 1928.
Mrs. S. O. Chase, Jr.,
Windermere, Fla.
Dear Madam:-
Enclosed find a letter from Mrs. George S. Hill, Trustee, and copy of my reply. Would suggest that you take this matter up with Crowell or Mr. Fry and have them make a rough estimate of what will be needed in the way of lumber to make the changes and what it will require in the way of labor to do the work. We would be willing to contribute under the supervision of Mr. Fry, if possible, or someone else at Isleworth. These changes could be made from time to time during the summer, in order to have the building in readiness for use when school resumes. The writer did not know that the building was used not only as a school but for church purposes, and believe that those who make use of it should help out in the expense. Try to find out who is the leading darky or darkies and make them interested in these changes.
Yours very truly,
JCC:H
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
April 26, 1928.
Mrs. S. O. Chase, Jr.,
Windermere, Fla.
Dear Madam:-
Enclosed find a letter from Mrs. George S. Hill, Trustee, and copy of my reply. Would suggest that you take this matter up with Crowell or Mr. Fry and have them make a rough estimate of what will be needed in the way of lumber to make the changes and what it will require in the way of labor to do the work. We would be willing to contribute under the supervision of Mr. Fry, if possible, or someone else at Isleworth. These changes could be made from time to time during the summer, in order to have the building in readiness for use when school resumes. The writer did not know that the building was used not only as a school but for church purposes, and believe that those who make use of it should help out in the expense. Try to find out who is the leading darky or darkies and make them interested in these changes.
Yours very truly,
JCC:H
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Mrs. Sydney Octavius Chase (April 26, 1928),” RICHES, accessed April 19, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2759.