Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (February 29, 1928)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (February 29, 1928)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (February 29, 1928)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Labor--Florida
Description
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and his uncle, Joshua Coffin Chase. Topics discussed in the letter include a laborer Smith's release from jail after a fight with another laborer's son and allowing Smith to return to work at Isleworth Grove.
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, Randall
Source
Original letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, February 29, 1928: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.83, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1928-02-29
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase, February 29, 1928.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.83, 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.
Requires
Format
application/pdf
Extent
279 KB
Medium
2-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History 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.
Transcript
CHASE & COMPANY
GROWERS; MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
February 29, 1928.
Mr. J. C. Chase,
Orlando, Fla.
Dear Uncle Josh:
I have read with considerate regret your letter of the 28th regarding releasing Smith from the Orlando jail. The whole trouble is due to the fact that we were not advised in this office that you or any one else had been advised of the situation, or had done anything about it.
As you know we have always handled all labor matters and troubles thru here, and when we handled this matter of releasing Smith we were only following the usual and established custom.
The information that reached me was not the same that reached you as to the need of Smith. I was informed that Smith has been put in jail for disorderly conduct, and the charge of being drunk, furthermore that on account of his not being on the grove it more or less delayed the installation of the irrigation system which you, and all of us, want to rush to completion as fast as possible.
My first thought was identical to yours, to let Smith soak where he was, but on reconsidering I thought it would be to our interest to take him out and continue the work without interruption rather than flunk around with new, or strange, help, or continue at half speed in case we did not find any one else suitable.
I assure you that it is not my desire, or even thought, to encourage drinking or disorderly conduct in or about Isleworth, however you know that where ever men are there is going to be a certain amount of that done anyway.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
TRADEMARK
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
GROWERS' MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
#2
The instructions from this office concerning Smith now are that all of his pay, with the exception of what he needs for board and possibly a dollar for cigarettes, is to held back until we are entirely thru with him. We can then pay him off and he can leave the place and spend his money as he sees fit.
As stated above the whole trouble was brought about by this office not being informed of what you had already done about the matter. I regret very much that what I did does not meet with your approval and I assure you that I am perfectly willing, and would be glad, to stand for the amount of bail rather than have it go thru on the Isleworth account.
Yours very truly,
Randall
RC :HMR.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
TRADEMARK
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
GROWERS; MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
February 29, 1928.
Mr. J. C. Chase,
Orlando, Fla.
Dear Uncle Josh:
I have read with considerate regret your letter of the 28th regarding releasing Smith from the Orlando jail. The whole trouble is due to the fact that we were not advised in this office that you or any one else had been advised of the situation, or had done anything about it.
As you know we have always handled all labor matters and troubles thru here, and when we handled this matter of releasing Smith we were only following the usual and established custom.
The information that reached me was not the same that reached you as to the need of Smith. I was informed that Smith has been put in jail for disorderly conduct, and the charge of being drunk, furthermore that on account of his not being on the grove it more or less delayed the installation of the irrigation system which you, and all of us, want to rush to completion as fast as possible.
My first thought was identical to yours, to let Smith soak where he was, but on reconsidering I thought it would be to our interest to take him out and continue the work without interruption rather than flunk around with new, or strange, help, or continue at half speed in case we did not find any one else suitable.
I assure you that it is not my desire, or even thought, to encourage drinking or disorderly conduct in or about Isleworth, however you know that where ever men are there is going to be a certain amount of that done anyway.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
TRADEMARK
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
GROWERS' MARKETING AGENTS
PACKERS AND SHIPPERS
FLORIDA FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SANFORD, FLORIDA
#2
The instructions from this office concerning Smith now are that all of his pay, with the exception of what he needs for board and possibly a dollar for cigarettes, is to held back until we are entirely thru with him. We can then pay him off and he can leave the place and spend his money as he sees fit.
As stated above the whole trouble was brought about by this office not being informed of what you had already done about the matter. I regret very much that what I did does not meet with your approval and I assure you that I am perfectly willing, and would be glad, to stand for the amount of bail rather than have it go thru on the Isleworth account.
Yours very truly,
Randall
RC :HMR.
DISTRIBUTORS
Sunniland
TRADEMARK
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
2-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Collection
Citation
Chase, Randall, “Letter from Randall Chase to Joshua Coffin Chase (February 29, 1928),” RICHES, accessed April 25, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2767.