by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The City of Clermont recently hosted the annual Christmas tree lighting celebrations at City Hall Park in historic downtown with a majestic tree lit with thousands of twinkling lights. The yearly celebration dates to the early turn of the 20th century when Clermont enjoyed the first known community Christmas tree in 1918; a time when financial soundness was slowly returning to Clermont while recovering from a hard freeze during the winter of 1894-95 that decimated the local citrus industry. A freeze that would lead to a mass exodus of the population and would lead to the loss of Clermont’s incorporation status. A status that would not be returned until 1917.
Historical documents reveal that individual citizens and downtown businesses joined together to bring a celebration in a time when World War I was leading the headlines shared with a flu pandemic sweeping the nation for a second time. The first community tree was on 8th Street, south of Montrose Street. Although a picture of the tree has not been located to date, the picture below simulates an example of community Christmas trees of the times, in small towns across the nation. Trees of that era were decorated with homemade ornaments and edible treats that were often snagged by wildlife or succumbed to inclement weather. Garlands of tinsel and beads, glass balls, and ornaments resembling wreaths and animals were also a favorite among the youth of the community.
During a time when the town council had recently passed an ordinance, compelling town citizens to labor on downtown streets two days a year, or pay a $2.00 fee to avoid shoveling cow manure and leveling “potholes” in the sand-clay roads, local churches, businesses, and the financial well-to-do families in the community, came together to provide either handmade or purchased gifts for each child in Clermont under the age of 12 on Christmas Eve. Homemade treats were shared among the townspeople while caroling was one of the favored practices among the attendees of the Christmas Eve gathering around the community tree.
Records are unclear on the continuance of the community tree tradition through the years, but some natives recall traditions such as the annual Christmas parade that continues today. During the mid to late 1960’s, the parade was once held on State Road-50 with a beginning point on East Avenue near Bishop Field with a conclusion on 5th Street near West Montrose Street. State Road-50 was a two-lane highway when the population of Clermont was approximately 4,000 people. The parade was eventually moved to the downtown area and has entertained several routes and directions over the years.
Clermont native Jane Seaver-Williamson, who grew up on West Minneola Avenue near the downtown district, recalls amplified Christmas music played night and day throughout the downtown area. “The music was beautiful but had a metallic, LP record sound to it,” says Jane, jokingly.
The downtown Montrose Street area has enjoyed a change of holiday decorations over the years, as well. Clermont natives recall the strands of large, colored, electric light bulbs that garnered the intersections of 7th and 8th Streets with Montrose Streets in the 1950s through the early 1970s.
Times and trends change but the holiday spirit of downtown Clermont remains as strong today as it appears to have been in the beginning of our wonderful town that has grown plenty since the first community tree of 1918.
Join in on that holiday spirit this Friday, December 13th, from 6 pm- 8 pm in the historical downtown district for an evening of cookies and cocoa provided by the downtown businesses.
