The First Freeze With Documentation – 1835

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One would think that cold weather has invaded Florida many times over the centuries.  However, there appears to be no recorded information with regards to date and temperatures prior to 1835.  In his book, A History of Florida Citrus Freezes, Dr. John Attaway notes that there was a ‘warm century’ prior to the disastrous freeze of 1835.  There are many references to old citrus trees growing in many areas of Georgia and even South Carolina!  In her journal Francis Ann Kemble describes an orange tree “that overtopped the house, from the upper windows of which oranges have been gathered from off its branches and which, one year, bore the incredible number of 8542 oranges!”  Her home was about 30 miles inland half way between Jacksonville and Savanah (just north of Jessup, GA)!  Prior to 1835 citrus was growing abundantly from St. Augustine to Charleston!

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“A severe northwest wind blew ten days in succession, but more violently for three days.  The mercury fell to 7F and the St. Johns River was frozen several rods from shore..” noted R. K. Sewell.  The date was February 7/8, 1835 and location along the St. Johns between Jacksonville and St. Augustine.  Citrus was killed extensively and virtually eliminated from Georgia and South Carolina.  A grower stated “many were hurled in a night from the seat of affluence into the lap of poverty and distress!”  This was the first of a number of impactful freezes that pushed citrus production further and further south.  It is amazing how one very cold night can produce catastrophic damage and tremendous economic loss.  This was not the last such event!  Keep traveling down the Citrus Time Line!!!