McKay Archives and Florida Citrus Hall of Fame
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RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com "When we think of oranges, we think of sunshine, soft winds, flowers and palms. We think of romance and unreal things because the turning of sunshine into golden fruit is one of Nature's absorbing miracles." This is the opening line of a flowery brochure produced by the Orlando Orange Groves Company, in the mid 1920s, and given to every potential investor and tourist who would take a tour of the land outside of Winter Garden, Florida. The business proposal acquired by the staff of the McKay Archives in August 2016, is more quick to come to the point of the sales pitch. It begins "Orange County ... produces approximately one-third of all the oranges grown in the State of Florida. The rolling ridge land, composed of the famous Norfolk Fine Sand, is especially adapted to the culture of the orange." Introduction Our Process Over the past year, student workers at the McKay Archives Center have analyzed a manuscript acquired by the Archives in order to put together a history of the groves and the lives of the original stockholders and directors that inspired and funded it. The manuscript is dated between 1925 and 1928. The 4500 acres of Avalon Groves, as it was named, and the Orlando Orange Groves Company, its parent company, were surrounded by money, influence, and (as we discovered in the course of our study) scandal. We have put together historical data from journalism, history books, and articles of incorporation to put together a picture of the events and influences surrounding the company, the Orlando of the late Twenties, and of Central Florida when it was still dominated by swamps and citrus with the purpose of shedding light on and providing a holistic look at this business proposal dated almost a century ago. The Manuscript Timeline of the History of Avalon Groves Who Invested in Avalon Groves? Board of Directors: Thomas Picton Warlow Frederick H. Thwing John Pendleton Holbrook Charles E. Mitchell Eugene G. Duckworth L. H. Gedge H. D. Piper S. V. Straley T. M. Mink Wilbur Warren Print Sources Bacon, Eve. Orlando: A Centennial History (Volumes I and II). The Mickler House, Publishers, Chuluota, FL, 1975. Blackman, William Fremont. History of Orange County Florida. 1927, The Mickler House, Publishers, Chuluota, FL, Reprint Apr. 1973. Clark, James C. Orlando, Florida: A Brief History. The History Press, Charleston, SC, 2013. Gore, E. H. From Florida Sand to “The City Beautiful”: A Historical Record of Orlando, Florida. N.p., n.l., 1949, 1951. Hood, Glenda E. and Bill Bachmann. Orlando: The City Beautiful. “Profiles in Excellence” and captions by Donna Bouffard Jones, Towery Publishing, Inc., Memphis, 1997. The Kansas City Times. Newspapers.com, 1909-1966, Kansas City. Kendrick, Baynard H. Orlando, A Century Plus. Edited by William G. Conomos, Sentinel Star Company, Orlando, FL, 1976. The New History of Florida. Edited by Michael Gannon, University Press of Florida, 1996. The Orlando Sentinel. Newspapers.com, 1916-1995, Orlando. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Newspapers.com, Sept 1924-May 1925, Philadelphia. The Raleigh Register. Newspapers.com, Jun 1949-Nov 1953, West Virginia. Special Thanks The Winter Garden History Center Gerrianne Schaad & Jeffrey Zines At the McKay Archives, work study students spent time investigating the origins and influences of historic life on the events of the time. We consulted and cross-referenced a variety of sources, such as: • The Interlibrary Loan System • Newspaper Databases • FSC Roux Library • Our manuscript • Florida State Archives • Winter Garden History Center • Other archival records Peter Edgar, Kelsi Shanks, Kaitlynn Hoffman, Caitlin Harper McKay Archives and Florida Citrus Hall of Fame “On To Avalon”: The History of Avalon Groves Online Sources http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1923-vol-36/226-231%20(CARNEY).pdf http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/homosassa_1696.html http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/pineapple.html http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/05/16/the-citrus-wizard-of-florida/ http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/luegimgong.html http://bluegoosegrowers.com/ http://abfla.com/1tocf/agriculture/orangegrowers.html https://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/citrus/citrus2.php The Avalon Groves manuscript can be divided into three parts based on their subject matter: 1. Overview of Avalon Groves stockholders and holdings pp. 1-19 2. Features of the surrounding areas (Orlando &Winter Garden et.al.) pp. 20-47 3. Description of citrus and what stockholders can expect if they sign on with Avalon Groves pp. 48-70 1. 2. 3. Orlando Stockholders: Nixon Butt Martin J. Daetwyler Gaston Holcombe Edwards Charles Russell Emerick Samuel Kendrick Guernsey Thomas Hopkins Stephenson Waters Howe E. D. Kenyon James A. Knox R. E. Duckworth Arthur E. Landstreet John McCulloch Dr. John Singer McEwan Arthur McKean Dewitt Miller W. H. Brokaw Senator Moses Oscar Overstreet I. W. Phillips D. P. Sias Wilbur Luther Tilden S. Y. Way Newton Pendleton Yowell Harry M. Voorhis Jasper N. Joiner Other Stockholders: Frank W. Pickels Loren M. Robertson Charles G. Greeley William H. Arthur S. J. Campbell Charles S. Bates Henry M. Hale James D. Cole R. M. Havens M. H. Thwing H. J. Babcock C. G. Sutliff James Sutliff James Fister James Hardy Sadler B. G. Smith George D. McCutcheon Mrs. Kate Mahood W. J. Higgins L. W. Smith J. R. Bahne D. C. Gillett James R. Rounding H. W. Jenks Citrus and Fruit The team: • Peter Edgar is a English and Communications double major. • Kelsi Shanks is a Business and Communications double major. • Caitlin Harper majors in citrus. • Kaitlynn Hoffman is an art history major. Fact-checking: Caitlin Harper spoke with FSC horticulture professor Dr. Manners for his verdict regarding certain statements made by the Avalon Groves leadership in the manuscript. 1. “Orange County… [yields] one-third of all the oranges in Florida.” Dr. M: 1920s, true. “Today, Orange County is… well under 5%.” 2. “Only 5% of Florida’s land is suitable for growing citrus.” Dr. M: “This may have been a belief back then. Today we grow citrus on many thousands of acres with improved technology.” 3. “The tract will contain 280,000 trees, with a potential annual product of more than one million boxes.” Dr. M: “Unacceptably low yield by today’s standards.” (half) 4. “Certain it is that orange trees are among the longest lived of any trees.” Dr. M: “This part is silly nonsense-marketer talk.” November 11, 1920: Orlando Orange Groves Company charter filed February 13, 1921: Copy of Company Charter notarized in Tallahassee April 4, 1921: Copy of Company Charter Verified by Sec. of State of Florida October, 1924: J. P. Holbrook holds a photoshoot at the entrance to Avalon Groves 1925 – 1927: Avalon Groves Manuscript written during this period. October 1929: Stock Market Crash, all Orlando banks fail but one 1930: Following the stock market crash, hearings were held to indict the directors (including T. Picton Warlow) of the banks that failed for their poor judgment Late 1928: F. H. Thwing elected president of Avalon Orange Groves Co. and Orlando Orange Groves Company 1932: The Avalon Orange Groves Company is sold to Arthur Davenport December 1930: Avalon leadership offers up to $150 in cash prizes as a contest for Avalon Groves-related essay-writers. 1921-1922: Planting begins at Avalon Groves 1932 May 1924: Avalon Groves holds one of their first annual fish frys to increase awareness September 1924: OOGCo. moves into new offices Late 1928: T. Picton Warlow steps down from Presidency of Company “due to ill health” November 1932: 350 acres of Avalon Groves sold to R. D. Keene for $197,000 Orlando Orange Groves Company investors sue the directors (specifically J. P. Holbrook) for excessive drawings on company earnings.
Transcript of McKay Archives and Florida Citrus Hall of Fame
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
"When we think of oranges, we think of sunshine, soft winds, flowers and palms. We think of romance and unreal things because the turning of sunshine into golden fruit is one of Nature's absorbing miracles." This is the opening line of a flowery brochure produced by the Orlando Orange Groves Company, in the mid 1920s, and given to every potential investor and tourist who would take a tour of the land outside of Winter Garden, Florida. The business proposal acquired by the staff of the McKay Archives in August 2016, is more quick to come to the point of the sales pitch. It begins "Orange County ... produces approximately one-third of all the oranges grown in the State of Florida. The rolling ridge land, composed of the famous Norfolk Fine Sand, is especially adapted to the culture of the orange."
Introduction
Our Process
Over the past year, student workers at the McKay Archives Center have analyzed a manuscript acquired by the Archives in order to put together a history of the groves and the lives of the original stockholders and directors that inspired and funded it. The manuscript is dated between 1925 and 1928. The 4500 acres of Avalon Groves, as it was named, and the Orlando Orange Groves Company, its parent company, were surrounded by money, influence, and (as we discovered in the course of our study) scandal. We have put together historical data from journalism, history books, and articles of incorporation to put together a picture of the events and influences surrounding the company, the Orlando of the late Twenties, and of Central Florida when it was still dominated by swamps and citrus with the purpose of shedding light on and providing a holistic look at this business proposal dated almost a century ago.
The Manuscript
Timeline of the History of Avalon Groves
Who Invested in Avalon Groves?
Board of Directors: Thomas Picton WarlowFrederick H. ThwingJohn Pendleton HolbrookCharles E. MitchellEugene G. DuckworthL. H. GedgeH. D. PiperS. V. StraleyT. M. MinkWilbur Warren
Print SourcesBacon, Eve. Orlando: A Centennial History (Volumes I and II). The Mickler House, Publishers, Chuluota, FL, 1975. Blackman, William Fremont. History of Orange County Florida. 1927, The Mickler House, Publishers, Chuluota, FL, Reprint Apr. 1973. Clark, James C. Orlando, Florida: A Brief History. The History Press, Charleston, SC, 2013.Gore, E. H. From Florida Sand to “The City Beautiful”: A Historical Record of Orlando, Florida. N.p., n.l., 1949, 1951. Hood, Glenda E. and Bill Bachmann. Orlando: The City Beautiful. “Profiles in Excellence” and captions by Donna Bouffard Jones, Towery Publishing, Inc., Memphis, 1997.The Kansas City Times. Newspapers.com, 1909-1966, Kansas City.Kendrick, Baynard H. Orlando, A Century Plus. Edited by William G. Conomos, Sentinel Star Company, Orlando, FL, 1976.The New History of Florida. Edited by Michael Gannon, University Press of Florida, 1996. The Orlando Sentinel. Newspapers.com, 1916-1995, Orlando.The Philadelphia Inquirer. Newspapers.com, Sept 1924-May 1925, Philadelphia. The Raleigh Register. Newspapers.com, Jun 1949-Nov 1953, West Virginia.
Special ThanksThe Winter Garden History CenterGerrianne Schaad & Jeffrey Zines
At the McKay Archives, work study students spent time investigating the origins and influences of historic life on the events of the time. We consulted and cross-referenced a variety of sources, such as:• The Interlibrary Loan System• Newspaper Databases• FSC Roux Library • Our manuscript • Florida State Archives• Winter Garden History Center• Other archival records
Peter Edgar, Kelsi Shanks, Kaitlynn Hoffman, Caitlin HarperMcKay Archives and Florida Citrus Hall of Fame
“On To Avalon”: The History of Avalon Groves
Online Sourceshttp://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1923-vol-36/226-231%20(CARNEY).pdfhttp://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/homosassa_1696.htmlhttp://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/pineapple.htmlhttp://blogs.usda.gov/2012/05/16/the-citrus-wizard-of-florida/http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/luegimgong.htmlhttp://bluegoosegrowers.com/http://abfla.com/1tocf/agriculture/orangegrowers.htmlhttps://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/citrus/citrus2.php
The Avalon Groves manuscript can be divided into three parts based on their subject matter:
1. Overview of Avalon Groves stockholders and holdings
pp. 1-19
2. Features of the surrounding areas (Orlando &Winter Garden et.al.)
pp. 20-47
3. Description of citrus and what stockholders can expect if they sign on with Avalon Groves
pp. 48-70
1. 2. 3.
Orlando Stockholders:Nixon ButtMartin J. DaetwylerGaston Holcombe EdwardsCharles Russell EmerickSamuel Kendrick GuernseyThomas HopkinsStephenson Waters HoweE. D. KenyonJames A. KnoxR. E. DuckworthArthur E. LandstreetJohn McCullochDr. John Singer McEwanArthur McKeanDewitt MillerW. H. BrokawSenator Moses Oscar OverstreetI. W. PhillipsD. P. SiasWilbur Luther TildenS. Y. WayNewton Pendleton YowellHarry M. VoorhisJasper N. Joiner
Other Stockholders:Frank W. PickelsLoren M. RobertsonCharles G. GreeleyWilliam H. ArthurS. J. CampbellCharles S. BatesHenry M. HaleJames D. ColeR. M. HavensM. H. ThwingH. J. BabcockC. G. SutliffJames SutliffJames FisterJames Hardy SadlerB. G. SmithGeorge D. McCutcheonMrs. Kate MahoodW. J. HigginsL. W. SmithJ. R. BahneD. C. GillettJames R. RoundingH. W. Jenks
Citrus and Fruit
The team: • Peter Edgar is a English and
Communications double major.• Kelsi Shanks is a Business and
Communications double major.• Caitlin Harper majors in citrus. • Kaitlynn Hoffman is an art
history major.
Fact-checking: Caitlin Harper spoke with FSC horticulture professor Dr. Manners for his verdict regarding certain statements made by the Avalon Groves leadership in the manuscript. 1. “Orange County… [yields] one-third of all the oranges in Florida.”
Dr. M: 1920s, true. “Today, Orange County is… well under 5%.”2. “Only 5% of Florida’s land is suitable for growing citrus.”
Dr. M: “This may have been a belief back then. Today we grow citrus on many thousands of acres with improved technology.”
3. “The tract will contain 280,000 trees, with a potential annual product of more than one million boxes.”
Dr. M: “Unacceptably low yield by today’s standards.” (half) 4. “Certain it is that orange trees are among the longest lived of any trees.”
Dr. M: “This part is silly nonsense-marketer talk.”
November 11, 1920: Orlando Orange Groves
Company charter filed
February 13, 1921: Copy of
Company Charter
notarized in Tallahassee
April 4, 1921: Copy of
Company Charter
Verified by Sec. of State of
Florida
October, 1924: J. P. Holbrook
holds a photoshoot at
the entrance to Avalon Groves
1925 – 1927: Avalon Groves
Manuscript written during
this period.
October 1929: Stock Market
Crash, all Orlando banks
fail but one
1930: Following the stock market crash,
hearings were held to indict the directors (including T. Picton
Warlow) of the banks that failed for their
poor judgment
Late 1928: F. H. Thwing elected
president of Avalon Orange Groves Co. and Orlando Orange Groves Company
1932: The Avalon Orange Groves
Company is sold to Arthur
Davenport
December 1930: Avalon leadership
offers up to $150 in cash prizes as a
contest for Avalon Groves-related essay-writers.
1921-1922: Planting begins at Avalon Groves
1932
May 1924: Avalon Groves holds one of
their first annual fish frys
to increase awareness
September 1924:
OOGCo. moves into new offices
Late 1928:T. Picton Warlowsteps down from
Presidency of Company “due to
ill health”
November 1932: 350 acres
of Avalon Groves sold to R. D. Keene for
$197,000
Orlando Orange Groves Company investors sue the
directors (specifically J. P. Holbrook) for
excessive drawings on company earnings.
