Clermont’s Historic Village is home to several buildings that have a significant role in the community’s history.  One of these is the original Cooper Memorial Library, aka the “Little Library” that was built over 100 years ago on DeSoto Street.

Karen Miller, a long-time Historical Society member, can be found most Saturdays in the library volunteering and sharing information about the history of the library’s name and such with the visitors.  As a retired primary grade teacher, Karen has a great love for the books for children in the library and has been busy rearranging things in the “Children’s Nook.”  After working on the bookshelf, she brought in a photograph (taken by Historical Society board member, Larry Oskin) from her home of books in the Dick and Jane series which now hangs above the bookshelf.  Just recently she donated an original Dick and Jane book and a beautiful quilt she made featuring pictures and phrases from the books in the series.  The quilt will be displayed on a bench in the “Children’s Nook.”  We invite everyone, especially those of you who remember learning to read through these books, to come see the beautiful display.

The Historic Village is located at 490 West Avenue on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola and is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Private tours can be arranged by calling the Village manager, Roxanne Brown, at 352-432-3496 and leaving a message.  Admission to the Village is free but a donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested.

If you are interested in history in general or the history of Clermont in particular, consider joining the Clermont Historical Society.  Dues for an individual are only $25.00 a year and $35.00 for a couple.  Historical Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:00PM in the train depot at the Village.  The next meeting is February 9^th.  We hope to see you there.

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If you didn’t get to see Rosie, aka Angie Morthland, last year when she was in Clermont, now is your chance!  She will be at Clermont’s Historic Village in the World War II Quonset hut on Saturday, February 7^th from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Angie is a retired educator who brings years of experience to her presentation.  She explores the origins of the “Rosie the Riveter” name, the evolution of her appearance, the significance of each item in her outfit, and much, much more.  As a “Rosette” (female decedent of a “Rosie”) herself, Angie adds a lot of personal information and personality to her presentations.

The Historic Village is located at 490 West Avenue on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola and is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm Private tours can be arranged by calling the Village manager, Roxanne Brown, at 352-432-3496 and leaving a message.  Admission to the Village is free but a donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested.

If you are interested in history in general or the history of Clermont in particular, consider joining the Clermont Historical Society.  Dues for an individual are only $25.00 a year and $35.00 for a couple.  Historical Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Monday of each month at 6 pm in the train depot at the Village.  The next meeting is February 9^th.  We hope to see you there.

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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 20^th 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 8^th 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 10^th.

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Guided by dedicated village volunteer Donna DiGennaro, the students explored artifacts, exhibits, and stories that brought the events of World War II to life. Their enthusiasm was evident as they engaged with the displays and asked thoughtful questions throughout the tour.

As the visit came to a close, the students left a lasting impression—not only for their curiosity and conduct but also for the heartfelt appreciation they showed their guide. “We love you, Miss Donna!” echoed from the group as they departed the museum, filling the air with warmth and gratitude.

“We were impressed with how well the students behaved and in awe that they walked four hot, humid miles to get over to the Village during their training that day—and four miles back!” shared DiGennaro. “Their dedication and respect were truly inspiring.”

The visit was more than just a field trip—it was a living lesson in history, discipline, and community engagement.

The Historic Village is located at 490 West Avenue, not far from the downtown shopping district.  It is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  A donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested.  

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Almost everyone is familiar with the iconic “We Can Do It!” World War II Rosie the Riveter poster but did you know it was not well known outside of one company’s factories during the war?  Did you know that two other ones were?  If you would like to learn more about this and many other interesting facts about the women who joined the workforce as a part of America’s efforts to defeat Nazi Germany and its allies, you are invited to a very special program! Come to Clermont’s Historic Village on Saturday, March 22 to interact with Rosie—aka Angie Morthland, who is part of the American Rosie the Riveter Association from 1:00-4:00 pm.

Rosie will have a lot of items on display and will be sharing personal stories of some women who stepped up and took the place of family members and of strangers who were off fighting in the war effort.  Some women worked in family businesses and some in huge factories making munitions, planes, ships, and more.  Many volunteered for the military and even served as test pilots to make “sure the planes were safe for the boys to fly.”

Friday, March 21^st is National Rosie the Riveter Day so come to the Village on the 22^nd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm to join in our celebration.  The Historic Village is located at 490 West Avenue not far from the heart of historic downtown Clermont on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola.

If you are interested in the history of Clermont & South Lake County or just history in general, consider joining the Clermont Historical Society.  Annual dues are just $25.00 for an individual or $30.00 for a couple.  The Historical Society meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Train Depot at the Village and all meetings are open to the public.  We would love for you to join us!

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The Clermont chain of lakes has an intriguing and mysterious history that includes documented artifacts found over time that date back to the days when Native Americans ruled the land and made the waterways not only a place called home but a way of life for food sources, travel and a means of survival long before European settlers laid claim to the land.

Over time, the method of water travel evolved from Native American canoes made from dug-out logs to modern-style boats of the era, crude rafts, and small ships of the time. Travel by waterways was a popular way of transporting goods and people in the late 1800s when much of Lake County was still comprised of dense woods, underbrush, wetland marshes, and soft sand. In 1885, Hebert Bailey brought the first steamboat “Cocoa” from Lake Harris to Lake Minneola. The 17-mile trek south through the Palatlakaha River took three weeks to make as Bailey’s crew had to cut through thick growth and logs in the river to make way for the 28-foot boat.

With a lot of hard work at clearing the waterways, eventually, a clear path of navigation was realized from Lake Louisa north to the present-day Clermont chain of lakes. Lake Louisa is fed from the Green Swamp by Big and Little Creeks. The waters of the Palatlakaha flow north 17 miles before reaching the Lake Harris chain of lakes, then into the Oklawahah River before reaching the St. John’s River. By the early 1900’s, the chain of lakes enjoyed higher than normal water levels, hence, allowing for larger-than-usual watercraft to navigate the chain of lakes and rivers.

During the years of drought and lower water levels, the chain of lakes and the contributing rivers have revealed many mysteries, from a downed WWII plane in Lake Louisa found in 1998 to indigenous canoes along the banks of the rivers that had subsided. One such find in 1998 was recently brought to the Clermont Historical Society’s (CHS) Museum Village on West Avenue in Clermont on Saturday, February 8^th. A large, 4-foot x 4-foot metal ship anchor that weighs several hundred pounds was rendered as a loan to the CHS by Clermont native, Donald Pitts.

Donald states that his sister Susie and her husband Jeff were walking in a portion of dried waterway on the Clermont chain when the couple discovered a portion of the anchor protruding from the sandy bottom. After digging the remaining anchor out of the sand bed, the couple soon realized that they had discovered a unique relic from yesteryear. “The anchor was in very good condition although it had possibly been submerged under water for decades,” says Pitts.  Not sure what to do with the artifact, the family began researching historic boats and the anchor history of the central Florida area.   

Long-time Clermont resident and former Cooper Memorial Librarian, Bonnie Ray, who passed away in 2021, located information in 1999 regarding the steamboat Caloosa. The Caloosa’s home dock was on Lake Monroe and operated along the St. Johns River during the late 19^th and 20^th centuries. Steamboats first appeared on the St. Johns in the 1860’s. In the information that Bonnie located was a short quote from an unknown source. “The captain said he had been wanting to make the trip for ten years. The crew had been thinking about it for ten minutes. But all were equally enthusiastic to sail down the famous Oklawaha River from the lakes, its source, to the St. Johns River into which it empties, to glide on dark sluggish waters, through cypress swamps, catching glimpses of strange birds, to visit the largest springs in the world-such a prospect might arouse anyone,” author unknown.

Bonnie also supplied from her research a printed photograph of the steamboat, including the boat’s anchor. The anchor in the photo is arguably like the anchor that Susie and Jeff discovered buried in the sand of once deep waters of the chain.

Could the quote indicate interest in navigating the Oklawaha south to the Clermont chain? Could the anchor have been from a similar boat the size of the Caloosa? Or perhaps the Caloosa itself? We likely will never know but one thing is for certain about the mysterious anchor. Her simple presence proves once again that our community holds a rich history that has been preserved in many ways and passed down to generations throughout the years. Much of that history is on display at the Clermont Historic Village, 490 West Avenue, Clermont.

Clermont Historical Society spokesperson Dieter Grube states that a permanent resting and display space for the anchor will be put into place soon on the village grounds for visitors to enjoy.

(Photographs courtesy of the Pitts family and the Clermont Historic Society)

Please visit www.ClermontHistoricVillage.org for hours of operation and virtual tours of the village.

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The Clermont Historic Village, 490 West Avenue, was home to wedding vows and the addition of two pieces of history on Sunday, June 9^th. The old schoolhouse bell rang in wedding chime style for Nicole Difinizio and Danny Simpson as they united with marriage vows officiated by Katherine Imundi. The ceremony was performed in the Grace Chapel located on the grounds of the Clermont Historic Village (CHV). Grace Chapel, built in the spring of 2022, is a downsized replica of Clermont’s original Baptist Church that was built in 1888.

Danny and Nicole, who are frequent visitors to CHV, wanted to add their own piece of history to the chapel by donating a solid wooden cross to the chapel’s interior. The cross, which stands at approximately fourteen feet tall, has a rustic touch and fits well into the wooden framed and floored structure.  The cross was utilized for the couple’s wedding and will remain in the chapel as a permanent fixture.

As a special gift to the newlyweds, representatives of CHV went to work on locating an organ player who could play an antique pump organ. As wedding fate would have it, the search did not take long or go far. Hugh Dial, an organ player for the St. Matthias Episcopal Church of Clermont, was recommended by locals. Mr. Dial, who has played pianos and organs for most of his life, was the perfect fit for the vintage organ that had not been played since it was brought to its new home in the Spring of 2024. “It may need a little tuning, but it is a beautiful instrument and plays well,” says Dial.  

The organ, believed to have been built in the early 1900’s by the Shipman Organ Company, was a recent gift to the CHV by a local family.  The Shipman Organ Company, founded in 1905, was located in High Point, North Carolina. The company operated as the High Point Piano & Organ Company from 1905 until a fire destroyed the factory in 1911. A new 50,000 square foot factory was built on the same site and the business continued as the Shipman Organ Company. Records indicate that at the peak of the factory’s existence, the company produced 700 organs per month or 8,400 organs per year. Shipman Organ Company declared that it was the only known pump organ company located in the south or below the Old Mason Dixon Line that was ever successful. Most of the South’s manufacturing capability was destroyed as a result of the Civil War. The business continued through 1924 when the Piedmont Manufacturing Company succeeded it.

The organ’s history can be dated back to around 1910-1920 when it was played in a small church by the donator’s grandmother.  The organ was eventually retired from church use but after a thorough reconditioning, the organ was believed to have been donated to the grandmother. The organ remained in the family and was a focal point of Janet Thomas’ home for decades. Janet was a loyal and dedicated supporter of the Clermont Historical Village for years. After much discussion, the Thomas family decided to donate the antique organ to the CHV where not only Janet’s name would be remembered but the organ can continue to show off its beautiful tone and incredible handcrafted woodwork designs.

The newlywed couple plan to spend a short honeymoon at Walt Disney World this weekend with future plans of an extended honeymoon later this year in the Caribbean. In a fun way, something new, something old and something borrowed could not have fit any better than it did this weekend at the Clermont Historic Village.

Visit ClermontHistoricVillage.org for a full listing of historical artifacts, structures and wedding chapel information.

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The Village is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  Admission to the Village is by donation.  $5.00 per person over 12 is requested. 

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The quartet may be new, but its members are all
seasoned performers as was demonstrated by their beautiful
harmonies on old standards like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”
and “My Wild Irish Rose” as well as seasonal favorites like “Jingle
Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

In addition to singing beautifully, the quartet also gave an
interesting demonstration of their individual sounds and how they
blend in harmony. They were also not above telling some “Dad
jokes” like, “Who is Frosty the Snowman’s favorite aunt?”
Answer: “Antarctica!” Groan!

To learn more about the Clermont Historical Society, Visit HISTORIC SOCIETY

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If you didn’t have a chance to go to the Heritage Day Festival at the Historic Village, you missed a fun-filled day—Mother Nature even cooperated with perfect temperatures and nice breezes off Lake Minneola. 

The day featured lots of hands-on activities like making friendship bracelets, hand washing clothes on a scrub board, using hand tools, churning butter, and even making rope.  Read to Sydney, Captains A and SySy from YouTube were there.  Rosie the Riveter and a few others joined them.  The restored Model T Fords were impressively displayed along with a 1925 pumper firetruck that was used for many years in Tampa.

This year also featured organizations that have long been a part of the history of Clermont and our country—the American Legion, Kiwanis, Veterans of Foreign War, and the Woman’s Club.  Visitors had the opportunity to talk with their representatives and learn how they are still playing an active role in the community.

A special “Thank you” goes out to Outback Steakhouse for providing the delicious chicken, mashed potatoes & salad that was available to purchase for lunch and to Sweet Cups for the equally amazing chocolate chip cookies.

The Clermont Historical Society has hosted Heritage Day for 6 years and is planning on continuing the tradition next year.  But you don’t have to wait long to visit the Historic Village.  All the activities may not be happening every weekend, but all the buildings are open for tours every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  The structures have been lovingly restored and are full of interesting artifacts and antiques.  You can even contact the Village manager, Roxanne Brown, at 352-242-7734 to arrange for a private tour during the week and to inquire about renting the Depot or the Chapel.

Siobhan Hiett takes her sister, Josie, for a ride in a Model T Woody

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