Letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson (March 20, 1931)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson (March 20, 1931)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (March 20, 1931)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Shipping--Florida
Description
An original letter of correspondence between Randall Chase and Isleworth packinghouse superintendent Corbett Hutchinson. Topics discussed in the letter include the positive results from the Isleworth shipments via Clyde Line and instructions to continue shipment along said route.
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 Corbett Hutchinson, March 20, 1931: box 49, folder 20.91, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1930-03-20
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson, March 20, 1931.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.91, 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
114 KB
Medium
1-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
New York
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Randall Chase.
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
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.
Transcript
CHASE & CO.
SANFORD, FLORIDA
March 20, 1931.
Mr. Corbett Hutchinson,
Windermere, Fla.
Dear Sir:
We have had very good results from the Isleworth shipments via Clyde, and we think it would be well to continue having some fruit go forward that way. We would like to have fruit leaving Isleworth to go by Clyde on Thursdays and Saturdays, so as to make the Fridays and Sunday's boats from Jacksonville. There is a Wednesdays boat, but that arrives in New York on Friday, too late for that day's sale, so that the fruit has to carry over until Monday, which is not desirable.
We want, of course, to maintain our position in the New york market. In order to do that it is necessary that we have something selling every day they have a sale. On Clyde Line shipments leaving Jacksonville on Friday we can figure they will sell on Tuesday. Clyde shipments leaving Sunday we figure will sell on Thursday. The Clyde actually makes a four days schedule to New York, but arrives on the morning of the fourth day generally too late for that day's sale. We will have to arrange our shipments by rail so we will make sure and have cars there when we don't have them by Clyde Line. We figure rail shipments the fourth morning sale.
Yours very truly,
R.C.
CC-Mr. S. O. Chase.
Mr. J. C. Chase.
RC:HMR.
SANFORD, FLORIDA
March 20, 1931.
Mr. Corbett Hutchinson,
Windermere, Fla.
Dear Sir:
We have had very good results from the Isleworth shipments via Clyde, and we think it would be well to continue having some fruit go forward that way. We would like to have fruit leaving Isleworth to go by Clyde on Thursdays and Saturdays, so as to make the Fridays and Sunday's boats from Jacksonville. There is a Wednesdays boat, but that arrives in New York on Friday, too late for that day's sale, so that the fruit has to carry over until Monday, which is not desirable.
We want, of course, to maintain our position in the New york market. In order to do that it is necessary that we have something selling every day they have a sale. On Clyde Line shipments leaving Jacksonville on Friday we can figure they will sell on Tuesday. Clyde shipments leaving Sunday we figure will sell on Thursday. The Clyde actually makes a four days schedule to New York, but arrives on the morning of the fourth day generally too late for that day's sale. We will have to arrange our shipments by rail so we will make sure and have cars there when we don't have them by Clyde Line. We figure rail shipments the fourth morning sale.
Yours very truly,
R.C.
CC-Mr. S. O. Chase.
Mr. J. C. Chase.
RC:HMR.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Collection
Citation
Chase, Randall, “Letter from Randall Chase to Corbett Hutchinson (March 20, 1931),” RICHES, accessed April 19, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2780.