Written by Donna Digennaro, Clermont Historical Society
A lot of people have visited the beautiful Cooper Memorial Library on the grounds of the Community College. But how many know what the original library looked like, how it got its name or even how Clermont came to start its own library?
The answer to the first question is easy—simply look at the picture above. This is the Cooper Memorial Library as it looked last December on the grounds of the Historic Village, 490 West Avenue, Clermont. The other two will take a bit more. In the early 1900’s it was popular for lecturers from a college in New York State to travel around the country and give talks. The fine people of Clermont were convinced by a traveling salesman to purchase those lectures in exchange for enough books to start a small library. The man “took the money and ran” but that did not stop Clermont from getting the library!
A group of concerned citizens worked out a plan to house books in the home of Mrs. Payson Pierce who served as the Liberian when the library was open on Saturday afternoons. That was in 1906. In 1910, when residents were paying 50 cents a year to belong to the library, it moved to a different home and a year later to the Baptist Church. By 1914 it was decided that the time had come to build a library to house the town’s ever-growing book collection.
That was when Mrs. Alice Cooper offered to lease land on DeSoto Street as long as it was used for the library and so the library was constructed for $600.00. A tidy sum in those days. It had beautiful heart of pine floors, lots of windows to make it bright & cheery, and a fireplace for warmth on cold days but no electricity. Mr. Cooper’s daughter, Helen Mar Bishop served as the first librarian. In 1922 the library got electricity when the city council started using it for its meetings. They met there for about one year. In 1938 Mrs. Helen Mar Bishop donated the land where the library stood and it was given its name—Cooper Memorial Library in honor of her mother & father.
So, now you know the answers to the three questions asked in the first paragraph. But, there is so much more history surrounding this lovely structure. To find out more you can read about the library in Clermont: From Gem of the Hills to Choice of Champions written and edited by members of Cooper Memorial Library Association or you can tour the actual library itself at the Historic Village.
The Historic Village is a unique partnership between the city of Clermont and the Clermont Historical Society. The city maintains the exterior of the buildings and the grounds and the Historical Society maintains the interior of the buildings, owns the furnishings and decor and conducts tours every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Admission to the Village is always free, however, a donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested. Once you are on the grounds of the Village, all visitors are asked to report directly to the pavilion to sign our guest book and for a brief explanation of the changes that have been made to our procedures. The changes are: only one group at a time will be permitted in each building. One volunteer will be stationed where (s)he can see the entrances to all the buildings to ensure this. No volunteers will go on tours with guests. There will be signs inside the buildings asking people to not touch the display items. We will wipe down knobs, railings and buttons after people leave each building. Some rooms will be roped off from the public. And, finally, all volunteers will wear masks. Masks are available for visitors upon request.
If you are interested in the history of Clermont or in history in general, why don’t you consider joining the Clermont Historical Society? Membership is just $25.00 per person or $35.00 for a couple annually. At this time only board members are attending the society’s monthly meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of each month but members and guests are invited to join via Zoom. You can also see lots of pictures and information about the Village on our Facebook page. A new website will be launching soon. For questions or further information please call 352-242-7734. We hope to see you all now that the Village is reopened. Stay hopeful and safe!
