Dorothy and Mary Alice Hale

The Enduring Legacy of Dorothy Ederington Hale and Dorothy Celia “Dotte” McKethan 

In the heart of Brooksville, Florida, the grand two-story home at 7 Orange Avenue, known as the McKethan House, stands as a testament to the strength, grace, and community spirit of two remarkable women: Dorothy Ederington Hale and her granddaughter, Dorothy Celia “Dotte” McKethan Mason. As members of Brooksville’s pioneering families, these women shaped the town’s early days and its enduring legacy, weaving their stories into the fabric of Hernando County. So settle in and let’s stroll through their lives, from the pioneer roots of the 19th century to the vibrant community service of the 20th century.

Dorothy Ederington Hale: A Pioneer’s Foundation

Born in the mid-19th century into the storied Ederington family, Dorothy Ederington Hale was a true daughter of Hernando County, her roots planted when Brooksville was still known as Melendez around 1845. Her father, Colonel Francis Higgins Ederington, hailed from South Carolina and purchased the Chinsegut Hill property in 1851, naming it Mount Airy. Between 1852 and 1854, he built the Manor House, establishing a plantation that grew cotton, tobacco, and citrus at one of Florida’s highest points, 269 feet above sea level. Dorothy, one of his eight daughters, grew up on this hill, surrounded by the rolling landscape and the challenges of pioneer life. The Ederingtons faced hardship, with Francis and his wife, Precious Ann Nevitt, passing in their forties, leaving Dorothy and her siblings to carry forward their legacy.

Dorothy married John J. Hale, son of Joseph Hale, a founding figure who, alongside John May, donated fifteen acres for Hernando County’s courthouse. Their nuptials united two of Brooksville’s most influential families, strengthening the town’s early roots. In 1882, Dorothy and John built the grand McKethan House at 7 Orange Avenue, a symbol of Brooksville’s growing prosperity. Constructing this home was no small feat—bricks were shipped from Massachusetts, transported by train, boat, and wagon, reflecting their determination in an era when local materials were scarce. With its front gable dormers, transoms, and gingerbread railing balusters, the house stood proudly between state highways 41 and 98, a beacon of the town’s ambition.

Beyond her role as a matriarch, Dorothy supported her husband’s contributions to Brooksville’s growth. John introduced tangerines to Hernando County, earning the town its “Home of the Tangerine” title, and helped found the Brooksville Railroad Association, bringing the Florida Southern Railway to town in 1885. Dorothy’s family ties extended to Chinsegut Hill’s Snow Hill estate, where her sister Charlotte married Colonel Russell Snow. After the Great Freeze of 1895 devastated Florida’s citrus industry, trees from Snow Hill provided bud stock to revive it, a legacy Dorothy’s family helped sustain. Though specific details of her personal deeds are scarce, Dorothy’s life as a pioneer’s daughter and partner in a founding family laid the groundwork for Brooksville’s future. You can almost picture her on the porch of 7 Orange Avenue, watching wagons roll by, welcoming neighbors, and nurturing the town’s early spirit.

Dotte McKethan Mason: A Legacy of Service

Decades later, Dorothy Ederington Hale’s legacy found new life through her granddaughter, Dorothy Celia “Dotte” McKethan Mason, born on May 17, 1911, to William McLaurin McKethan and Mary Alice Hale, Dorothy’s daughter. A fourth-generation Hernando Countian, Dotte grew up steeped in the pioneer heritage of the Hale and Ederington families, with the McKethan House at 7 Orange Avenue as her childhood home. Her grandfather, John J. Hale, had built the house, and her brother, Alfred A. McKethan, would later become a legendary banker, citrus grower, and State Road Board chairman. Dotte’s roots ran deep, and her life would reflect the same commitment to community that defined her ancestors.

Dotte’s intellect shone early, as she graduated as Valedictorian of Hernando High School’s class of 1929. She pursued higher education at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta before transferring to Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University), earning a BA in history in 1933. As president of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she honed her leadership skills, a trait that would define her lifelong service to Brooksville. Returning home, Dotte taught history at Hernando High School, sharing her passion for the past with students. In 1942, she married Joseph Madison Mason, later becoming a substitute teacher to balance family life with her love for education.

Dotte’s impact extended far beyond the classroom. In the mid-1930s, she founded the Junior Service League of Brooksville, a group that energized community projects and set the stage for decades of local service. A lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church at 109 South Broad Street, she taught Sunday school, served on the administrative board, chaired the finance committee, and led the United Methodist Women, shaping the church’s mission for over 60 years. Her faith was a guiding light, matched by her involvement in the Brooksville Women’s Club and Music Club, where she fostered community through shared passions. Dotte also served on the founding board of Evergreen Woods, helping create a thriving space for seniors.

As the owner of the McKethan House, Dotte preserved its historical significance, keeping it in the family as a living piece of Brooksville’s past. An avid Gator fan—despite her FSU degree—she cheered at the Swamp until 2010, embodying her love for Florida’s spirit. Dotte lived at 7 Orange Avenue until her passing on July 19, 2011, at the remarkable age of 100, having spent her entire life in the town she cherished. Standing here, you can almost see Dotte welcoming friends to her home, planning a church event, or inspiring students with tales of Brooksville’s history.

A Shared Legacy at 7 Orange Avenue

The McKethan House at 7 Orange Avenue ties Dorothy Ederington Hale and Dotte McKethan Mason across generations, a symbol of their shared commitment to Brooksville. Dorothy built the house in 1882, laying a foundation for her family’s contributions to the town’s early growth, from citrus innovation to railway development. Dotte, born in that same house, carried forward its legacy, preserving its history while serving her community through education, faith, and civic leadership. Together, their stories reflect the resilience of Brooksville’s pioneer roots and the warmth of its modern spirit.

Standing on Orange Avenue today, you can feel the echoes of Dorothy and Dotte—two women whose quiet strength, grace, and dedication helped shape Brooksville into the welcoming town it remains. 

Citations

Chinsegut Hill Manor House, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinsegut_Hill_Manor_House

7 North Orange Avenue, Tour BVL, https://www.tourbvl.com

Who Were the McKethans?, Hernando Sun, January 5, 2021, https://www.hernandosun.com

Chinsegut Hill: Where History Meets Hospitality, Florida Backroads Travel, https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com

Obituary for Dorothy Celia “Dotte” (McKethan) Mason, Merritt Funeral Home, https://www.merrittfuneral.com

7 N Orange Ave, Brooksville, FL, Parcel Lookup, https://www.parcellookup.com

Hernando County: Our Story by Alfred A. McKethan, 1989, Hernando Historical Museum Association, https://www.hernandohistoricalmuseumassoc.com

Mary Alice McKethan (née Hale), born around 1885 and passing in 1965, was a pivotal figure in Brooksville, Florida, whose contributions to the Hernando State Bank marked her as a trailblazer for women in finance. As a member of the prominent Hale and Ederington families, her legacy is deeply intertwined with Brooksville’s pioneer history and the growth of its economic institutions. Her role on the bank’s board of directors, alongside her family’s influence in banking, citrus, and community leadership, cemented the McKethans’ enduring impact on Hernando County.

Early Life and Family Heritage

Mary Alice Hale was born into Brooksville’s founding families, the daughter of Dorothy Ederington Hale and John J. Hale. Her parents built the grand McKethan House at 7 Orange Avenue in 1882, a symbol of the town’s prosperity, using bricks shipped from Massachusetts. Her father, John, introduced tangerines to Hernando County, earning Brooksville its “Home of the Tangerine” title, and helped establish the Brooksville Railroad Association in 1885, bringing the Florida Southern Railway to town. Her mother’s family, the Ederingtons, were tied to Chinsegut Hill (originally Mount Airy), purchased in 1851 by Colonel Francis Higgins Ederington. After the Great Freeze of 1895, trees from Chinsegut’s Snow Hill estate, linked to Mary Alice’s aunt Charlotte Ederington Snow, provided bud stock to revive Florida’s citrus industry. Growing up in the McKethan House, Mary Alice was steeped in this legacy of resilience and community-building.

Role at Hernando State Bank

Mary Alice married William McLaurin McKethan, who joined the Hernando State Bank in 1907 and served as its president from 1924 until his death in 1936. Established in 1905 by prominent residents, including former Florida Governor William Sherman Jennings, the bank was Hernando County’s first, with initial assets of $300,000, largely from citrus growers. Located at 1 East Jefferson Street, it was a cornerstone of Brooksville’s commercial hub. After William’s passing, Mary Alice served on the bank’s board of directors for many years, becoming one of the first women in Hernando County to hold such a position. Her leadership helped guide the bank through a period of growth, reflecting her capability in a male-dominated field and her commitment to her husband’s legacy.

Family and Continued Influence

Mary Alice and William had three children: Alfred A. McKethan, John “Hale” McKethan, and Dorothy Celia “Dotte” McKethan Mason, who carried forward the family’s prominence. Alfred, born in 1908, began working at the Hernando State Bank in 1923 as a high school student and became its president in 1943 at the age of 35, the youngest president of the Florida Bankers Association. In 1984, he sold the bank to SunBank, and it later became part of SunTrust (now Truist). Alfred’s influence extended to citrus, road development, and philanthropy, with landmarks like Alfred McKethan Pine Island Park named in his honor.

Dotte, born in 1911 at the McKethan House, was a community leader who founded the Junior Service League of Brooksville in the 1930s and served the First United Methodist Church for over 60 years. She preserved the McKethan House until her death in 2011 at age 100. John “Hale” McKethan, known as “Bud,” co-founded Brooksville Rock Company (later Florida Mining & Materials) and served on the SunTrust board for over 40 years. His daughter, Sarah Alice McKethan Bronson (1936–2000), married Thomas Bronson, who worked under Bud at Brooksville Rock Company, further linking the family to local business networks.

Legacy and Context

Mary Alice McKethan’s role at the Hernando State Bank was groundbreaking, highlighting her as a pioneer for women in finance. Her service on the board, following William’s death, ensured the bank’s stability and growth, supporting Brooksville’s citrus-driven economy. The bank’s original building, remodeled in 1951 with marble walls and expanded in the 1970s, stood as a testament to the family’s influence. Her descendants, particularly Alfred and Dotte, continued to shape the town through banking, philanthropy, and civic engagement, leaving a lasting legacy.

Standing at 1 East Jefferson Street today, you can almost envision Mary Alice, a steadfast matriarch, balancing family and leadership at the bank, her quiet strength echoing the pioneer spirit of her Ederington and Hale ancestors. Her contributions helped make Brooksville the thriving community it remains.

Citations

Who Were the McKethans?, Hernando Sun, January 5, 2021, https://www.hernandosun.com[](https://www.hernandosun.com/2021/01/05/who-were-mckethans/)

Alfred McKethan, Tour BVL, https://www.tourbvl.com[](https://www.tourbvl.com/alfred-mckethan)

Hernando leader Alfred A. McKethan dies, Tampa Bay Times, September 2, 2005, https://www.tampabay.com[](https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/04/02/hernando-leader-alfred-a-mckethan-dies/)

Sarah Alice McKethan Bronson (1936–2000), Find a Grave Memorial, https://www.findagrave.com[](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170017279/sarah-alice-bronson)