Near Brooksville in Hernando County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

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Chinsegut Hill

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 8, 2012

1. Chinsegut Hill Marker

Inscription. In 1842, South Carolinian Bird M. Pearson staked a claim on 160 acres and called it Mount Airy, one of the few surviving plantations in Florida and one of the oldest houses in Hernando County. Pearson built the manor house's east wing in 1847 and later residents expanded it, beginning in 1852. He raised citrus, cattle, and sugarcane. In 1905 Chicago residents Raymond (1873-1954) and Margaret Dreir (1868-1945) Robins purchased property and named it Chinsegut Hill, an Inuit word meaning "a place where lost things are found." The estate served as a retreat from the couple's tireless activism on behalf of workers, women, and the poor. Guests entertained here included Thomas Edison, Senator and Mrs. Claude Pepper, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, J.C. Penney and Helen Keller. During the Great Depression, the Robinses suffered severe losses and donated Chinsegut to the federal government, collaborating with the Department of Agriculture on an experimental station to benefit Florida farmers. In return, the couple could live there until their deaths. New Deal workers improved the property and built two cabins in 1933. In 1958, the University

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of South Florida acquired the property for use as a conference center.

Erected 2004 by The University of South Florida and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-510.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 28° 36.896′ N, 82° 21.57′ W. Marker was near Brooksville, Florida, in Hernando County. It was at the intersection of Chinsegut Hill Road and Snow Memorial Highway, on the right when traveling west on Chinsegut Hill Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Brooksville FL 34601, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was on the Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It was also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the

Photographed by Tim Fillmon

2. Chinsegut Hill Marker

Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Chinsegut Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); City of Brooksville (approx. 4.4 miles away); Hernando County Global War on Terrorism Memorial (approx. 4½ miles away); Hernando County War Memorial (approx. 4½ miles away); Hernando County (approx. 4½ miles away); Hernando County Confederate Monument (approx. 4½ miles away); The Grave of Charlotte Wynn Pyles Crum (approx. 4.8 miles away); Historic Sidewalk (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooksville.

More about this marker. Marker removed on 11/14/25. It will be replaced with an updated version soon.

Chinsegut Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 1, 2011

3. Chinsegut Hill

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 1, 2011

4. Chinsegut Hill

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,840 times since then and 129 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 25, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2. submitted on November 25, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.