1948 - Robert Campbell Comes to Groveland
As told by Janet Baysinger Osteen
My family originated from Sweden. My Great Grandfather, Dr. John G. TUrner, being a retired dentist in Mt. Carmel, Illinois - grew interested in the information of real estate development and tourism boom of the early 1900s in Central Florida. What especially caught his "eye" was The Groveland Farms Land Promotions, which invited Swedish, Polish, Italian, and other descendants to buy acreage in the newly formed town. Dr. Turner was very interested. Therefore he purchased 22 acres in 1925. Thus building his "brick" not wood framed home upon the citrus grove property. The house became the talk of the town! Known as the house with a full basement - you'd be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In fact mom (young Marion) would ride on the train from Illinois with him, to check on the home's construction.
Sometime in 1940, my Grandparents (mom's parents) moved from Mt. Carmel, Illinois to live with him and caretake the grove and citrus business. My Grandmother, Ellen Turner Fulks, being an only child - a daughter - inherited the house and property upon her father's death.
October 1st, 1956, my family - following the same fashion - moved from Aurora, Illinois to Groveland. My brothers were 10 and 8 and I was 10 months old. My dad left his career as a draftsman engineer and mom was a school teacher to come and assist with caretaking the citrus business and my grandparents. When my grandparents passed away - mom being an only child and daughter inherited the home and property. We as a family worked in the grove, picked fruit during the Christmas Holidays - until the freezes in the 1980s. Which wiped out most of the area's citrus flourishing business, B and W Juice PLant, and Packing House companies. Thus changing the entire dynamics of the town... neighboring areas.
Meanwhile my dad became a bagman at the A and P Grocery Store, which led him to the Groveland Post Office, where he became the city mail carrier. He delivered mail by walking the streets of small town Groveland's neighborhoods. First he'd park the station wagon at the end of the street. Then walk the block placing the mail in each mailbox at the person's door. In the 60s and 70s the townspeople could invite him in for a glass of iced tea on a warm day. He was well known and respected for his friendliness. In the 1970s the post office traded delivery from station wagon. to using the first mail truck... in Groveland - which was quite a Big Deal!!
My parents were both very community minded people. In fact they were a couple in Almost Everything they did! Their Passion for their family, church, and community involvement were most important the them! Their community involvement began with their Active membership at Edge Memorial United Methodist. Church. My family was deeply devoted to the Scouting Program. Dad was a Boy Scout Leader of the Groveland Troop, mom a Cub Scout Den Mother, both brothers, Jim and Ric, are Eagle Scouts, and I was a Girl Scout from Brownies to Juniors, Cadettes, Senior, and then a leader. Through our participation in Scouts - mom and dad's interests in the Groveland Chamber of Commerce grew! Especially with mom and The Womens Club - along with other city oranizations. My family's volunteering with the Library became more increasing. I do not know exactly when, but sometime in the 1960s - the Library began to Flourish!! Usually along with the help of the Boy Scouts - my family and others moved the Library to new locations. Packing books, carrying them unloading boxes - then arranging books upon wooden shelves - until metal ones were installed.
My first memory is when the Library was located in the old City Hall, which was later moved to the vacant old Post Office(since has been torn down and rebuilt as part of the Family Dollar Store) when the E. L. Puryear Building was built - the Library became an added part to this facility, which is now the Groveland Historical Museum. Enough time had passed by... when the Library was relocated to the present building. The Baysingers, Boy Scouts, and previous volunteers have been replaced with a new group of Lake County and Groveland resident and library loving people.
Bob and Marion Baysinger together touched, enhanced, inspired, and loved almost everyone they met. Working as a couple they extended their compassion for people-not-only our Groveland and Lake County communities, but throughout the State of Florida.
My dad died in October 1975 - leaving his footprints along Groveland's streets and upon the hearts of its community and traveled statewide.
On Sunday, March 11, 1991, mom had an unexpected massive heart attack. Ironically, she was at home getting ready for church, but first she had Groveland's events upon her mind - for when EMTs arrived- Marion had papers and program in hand for the next evening's Groveland Chamber of Commerce Banquet. In her office at home - you would always see new and old library books - there to be listed, cardtyped, bindings repaired, and just T.L.C Books Care! Getting them ready - whatever it took - so the public would have them to checkout and read - A.S.A.P. I can not recall hardly a time - when - there were not books in the house - that mom wasn't doing "something" with.
To this Present Day - to have the Groveland Community and County Honor Mom's legacy and my family's community passion for Groveland - is quite an overwhelming honor - a true gift when I think about it!! What a tribute to a woman who loved serving people, friends and her town - communities. Of someone most of. the time - was behind the scenes - just making sure things would keep going! So that lives would be enriched - a lasting impression with memories and stories.
It's a life so fulfilled!!
Oh - and going back to the family homeplace!?! When mom passed away - I inherited the 2-story brick home. I being the daughter. Then in 2018 - my husband, Terry, and I down-sized into the 100+ year old cottage next door. My daughter, Veronica, and her family, now live in the family home place house. Five generations have lived and helped maintain those original 22 acres.
Quite a Legacy - I have grown to Respect and Admire!
[Contributors: Janet Baysinger]