March is Women’s History Month, and Hernando County residents may not realize their community has produced remarkable women who made significant contributions to conservation, politics, arts and human rights. The GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club, through Natalie Kahler, has compiled information on these notable figures from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Among the most prominent was Lisa von Borowsky (1904-2001), who emigrated from Germany in 1924 and was initially hired as a housekeeper at Chinsegut by Margaret Dreier Robins. Recognizing von Borowsky’s horticultural talent, Robins moved her to groundskeeping work. Von Borowsky’s passion for wildlife led her to co-found the Hernando Audubon Society in 1929 and establish the Chinsegut Conservation Center.
Von Borowsky’s dedication to conservation extended far beyond local efforts. In the 1950s, when the Florida Audubon Society faced potential closure due to declining membership, she used her own money to keep the organization operating. She repeated this financial support in the mid-1970s when the organization again faced difficulties. Her conservation philosophy centered on preserving nature’s natural course and protecting mature and old-growth habitats throughout the region.
Beyond environmental work, von Borowsky remained active in community organizations including the YWCA and the Humane Society. When she passed away in 2001, her estate bequeathed the Ahhochee Hill Sanctuary to the Florida Audubon Society. The sanctuary, located on the Brooksville Ridge, sits on one of the highest hilltops in Florida and continues her conservation legacy.
Other notable Hernando County women from this era include Margaret Rogers Ghiotto (1916-2006), Virginia Michael Jackson (1930-2014), Hazel Mae Land (1932-2026), and Mable Lee Holloway Huggins (1946-2023). More information about von Borowsky’s work with the Audubon Society is available online.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
