by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Sunshine Book Company, located at 647 Lake Avenue, Clermont, celebrated its five-year anniversary on Thursday, April 9th, with a host of commemorations, including a traditional ribbon-cutting sponsored by the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.
The Sunshine Book Company is a family-owned, independent business that offers a wide variety of book assortments. From children’s sections to new releases, the store carries a large assortment of old favorites, romance, mystery and reference books, just to name a few of the subjects available.
Store Owners Beth and Todd Merrick had long dreamed of owning their own bookstore. Along with the couple’s three children, the couple would often discuss a vision for making that dream come true while visiting other independent stores. The Covid era provided the Merrick’s with an opportunity to take a deep breath and sketch out a plan to make that dream come true.
“We feel that it is really essential and critical that every community has an independent bookstore. It brings people together and offers a way for people to partner and participate in community. Bringing people together is one of the many things about the store that we love,” says Beth. One of the additional charming points of the store, located in historic downtown Clermont, is the rich history that the two-story, 100+ year old, wood frame former home holds within the cozy walls and heart-of- pine floors that still exist today.
The once home that turned into a comfortable and welcoming business was built in 1915 by Isiah and wife Nellie Benson of Woodstock, Vermont. Isiah and Nellie started visiting the Clermont area in 1905 as winter season residents. After moving to Clermont as permanent residents, the couple purchased the then vacant lots from Lake Avenue to Fifth Street, and from Montrose Street to Minneola Avenue. Over a period of time, the Bensons built homes at 607 Lake Avenue, 619 Lake Avenue and 647 Lake Avenue – the present-day Sunshine Book Company.
The grounds of the Lake Avenue residences are believed to be the site of social gatherings hosted by the New England Club. A club formed by Nellie and other transplant New Englanders. Some of the fun activities of the club included the making of maple sugar from Vermont’s finest syrup that was secured from Woodstock, Vermont by the Bensons.
In a time when progress in downtown Clermont was moving at a rapid pace, the well-maintained home turned bookstore was brand new at the time when fresh sidewalks were installed in the area. The sidewalks were accented by streetlamps powered by the first glimpse of electricity in downtown Clermont on July 1, 1915, at exactly 7:30 PM. Fresh water to homes was a work in progress, but was well underway, thanks to Alexander Kern. Kern was a nearby neighbor of the Lake Avenue homes after building his family home at 543 Montrose Street, just one-half block east of Lake Avenue.
The Lake Avenue home was built during the same year that the Clermont and Minneola School Districts were merged, and would later that year lead to a brand new, two-story brick school being constructed at the corner of Second Street and Oak Street, only blocks from the present-day Sunshine Book Store. The school would, years later, be deemed an elementary school and the longtime workplace of elementary teacher Ruth Delanos. Ruth resided in the bookstore home for many years before selling the home to then United Methodist Church of Clermont, Pastor Dale Harward, in 1984. Pastor Harward maintained the structure as a home until he sold it in 1999 to the current owner, sisters Laura Stokes-Henry and Rebecca Stokes-Mendoza. The Stokes family wanted to maintain the home’s nostalgic and historic image while also envisioning a place that welcomed entrepreneurial endeavors.
With some planning and preservation thoughts, the home was remodeled to accommodate a business downstairs while maintaining residential accommodations upstairs. Although the nostalgic and hospitable home on Lake Avenue has seen many changes over the years, its 111 years of existence remain as a positive symbol going forward in a community that takes pride in its hometown feel and family-oriented touch.
Stop by the store in person and enjoy a warm welcome from owners Todd and Beth, or visit www.SunshineBookCo.com for more information.
(Story and picture contributions from Rebecca Stokes-Mendoza, Dennis Bronson’s Walking Tour Guide-Downtown Clermont, Clermont: Gem of the Hills, Clermont Historic Village Museum and Florida Memory)
