Mary Vinson worked to restore old Baker House

The local activist and retired nurse dies at 92. "She was the epitome of Southern grace."

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 14, 2007

Mary Cook Vinson, community activist, retired nurse and pioneer who helped preserve the historic Baker House in Holiday, died Saturday at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs. She was 92.

Friends and family say Ms. Vinson dedicated her life to restoring the oldest Cracker house in west Pasco County through the Baker House Restoration Project. Ms. Vinson and her family once lived in the period-style house, full of primitive furniture and Victorian attire.

"She was the epitome of southern grace," said Ann Hildebrand, a county commissioner who was a board member on the project. "She was the driving force behind the Baker House ... her vision was to see it preserved as what old Florida used to be."

Long before she began working on the Baker House, Ms. Vinson spent her early years in Bozeman, Mont., and eventually moved to Tampa.

Ms. Vinson took a clerical job at Florida Citrus Exchange, where she met her husband, Willard. When the two married on April 6, 1940, Ms. Vinson wore her grandmother's wedding dress.

The couple had two children, Fran and George, and moved to Elfers, where Willard managed Mary's grandfather's 90-acre citrus grove. The family soon moved into a house built in 1882 by Samuel Baker, a seaman from Key West.

The Vinsons lived in the house at 5744 Moog Road for about 15 years. Meanwhile, Ms. Vinson became active in the community.

She held office in the League of Women Voters and was a member of the Chasco Fiesta committee. She donated clothes to domestic violence shelters. She was active in her church, Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs. Later, she got a nursing degree and worked at Helen Ellis Hospital.

Eventually, Ms. Vinson and her family moved out of the Baker House to a home on Madison Street.

But Ms. Vinson didn't leave behind her dedication to the Baker House, a place she had grown to love, that became dilapidated in the years since she moved out. She decided to help preserve it as a county landmark.

In 1987, she rallied together a group of people whose families were connected to the house or who were interested in history. The group started the restoration project.

"Mary had this vision, and her enthusiasm was contagious as all get out," Hildebrand said. "She said, 'we are going to restore that.' "

Restoration began with a $50,000 grant from the state.

As the years passed, members of the project became less active in the Baker House. Then, Ms. Vinson fell ill with a stroke. A few years ago, her husband died.

Fearing the future of the house, Hildebrand helped spearhead a move last year that holds the county responsible for upkeep on the house.

Although she was weak, Ms. Vinson continued to make time to stop by the house. Her daughter, Fran Nurrenbrock, said her mother will be remembered for her community service work and dedication to the house.

"She had a walker, and eventually a wheelchair," Nurrenbrock said. "Even though her body wasn't, her spirit and mind were willing to help. She was a wonderful person."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or 727 869-6229.

IF YOU GO

Memorial planned

A memorial celebration for Mary Vinson will be at 4 p.m. on Monday at Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs, 4651 Little Road, New Port Richey. Instead of flowers, the family would like memorial contributions made to the church.

[Last modified September 13, 2007, 22:21:03]