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1894 Christmas freeze was beginning of end for Clay citrus

By Mary Jo McTammany
Posted 12/26/18

As the New Year began in 1895, the Florida Times-Union captured a snapshot of everyday life in what was then known as the Orange Park society column or sometimes jokingly referred as the “gossip …

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1894 Christmas freeze was beginning of end for Clay citrus


Posted

As the New Year began in 1895, the Florida Times-Union captured a snapshot of everyday life in what was then known as the Orange Park society column or sometimes jokingly referred as the “gossip column.”

It seems that a few days after Christmas in1894, while society mavens were preparing for New Year’s Eve celebrations, a killing freeze swept into North Florida. The St. Johns River froze along its shallow edges and children skated and dragged each other around the ice on silver trays sneaked out of busy kitchens. Tropical fish froze in ornamental ponds.

By the very beginning of the New Year, residents of the village were less than enthusiastic about the future.

Prominent orange grower, William Parmenter, was quoted in the column that, “The orange trees have the appearance of a burned district and are damaged more than we at first anticipated. Fully half of each tree will have to be pruned away.” Any oranges not packed before the freeze laid black and shriveling on the ground.

Such a pronouncement from a man of Parmenter’s knowledge and experience was truly daunting because the proceeds from the orange shipping season carried growers over and financed the equally lucrative spring planting season.

It seems the members of the Social Club were disappointed because, due to the freeze, oysters were unavailable for the New Year’s Eve bash but they and hostess Mrs. J.F. Eldridge persevered and “the company sat down to a handsomely laid table, after which they enjoyed a hearty bonfire until the old year gave way to the new.”

Mr. Parmenter’s recently completed state-of-the-art hennery was fully described as well as the $12 chickens occupying the plush coup. The chickens, it seems, spent the freeze in cages in the house. Sadly Mr. P’s new collie pup was kicked and killed by a young horse.

Evidently crime did not take a holiday for the freeze because “…sneak thieves are still prowling about.” Mrs. W.E. Crocker’s washing was taken from the backyard line. Dr. Walling lost several white leghorn hens. The doctor offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of the well dressed and fed bandits.

“William Maierfeldt, the heaviest strawberry shipper would have had berries on the market ere this, had the freeze remained in its natural habitat.” And “F.J. Byrd moved into the old Hall House on Kingsley Avenue near the train station and Mr. Byrd plans to operate a boarding house and cooperage to manufacture barrels at the same site.

Sadly, come early February, just as sap was oozing into undamaged portions of the severely trimmed orange trees, another killing cold wave swept into the area and snow fell as far south as Tampa. Local orange trees were killed to the root and the industry never recovered.

Today, the chatty and information-filled society column which focused on the goings and doings of regular people is sadly considered a thing of the past. Luckily, that was not the case in 1895.