by Donna DiGennaro, Clermont Historic Village
Did you know that in 1916-1917 Clermont built a large, two-story, brick schoolhouse complete with 500 lb. bell? Well, it did! And that school was in use well into the second half of the 20th century. In fact, there are still some people living in Clermont who attended that school!
Unfortunately, that building was eventually torn down (you can see some items from it inside the one-room schoolhouse replica at the Historic Village) and it was necessary to find a new home for the big bell. The vast majority of the people living in and around Clermont had no idea where it was housed, even though they frequently walked right past it.
If you have ever been at the corner of 8th and Minneola, directly across from Pepe’s 
Cantina, you are one of those people. I know I was! Yes, that tower on the corner was the home of the bell for many years. All you had to do was walk into the center of it and look straight up. Not exactly putting the bell on public display.
A few years ago, Clermont’s then City Manager, Brian Bulthuis, started a plan to move the bell to new, more visible location where it could be seen and appreciated. Just recently the city completed a open structure that allows the bell to be viewed by the public but protects it from being handled or rung because of its age. Made in Baltimore, Maryland in 1884, the bell is one of the oldest items on display at the Historic Village.
There are lots of interesting stories about Clermont and its history—both long-ago and more recently. The Clermont Historic Village is the perfect place to learn some of these stories and spend a relaxing afternoon. Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola at 490 West Avenue, the Village is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00PM. A donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested.
If you are interested in the history of Clermont in particular or history in general, why not consider joining the Historical Society. Dues are only $25.00 for an individual or $35.00 for a couple. The Historical Society meets on the second Monday of every month in the Railroad Depot at the Village. The board meetings start at 6:00 pm and are open to the public. The next meeting is November 10th.
