The Clermont Historical Society invites you to the Historic Village to see the newest item on display.  Special thanks go to Donald Pitts, the owner of the anchor, for sharing it with those visiting the village.  The anchor was found in the Ocklawaha River several years ago.

Most people today are unaware that steamboat travel along the Ocklawaha was once very popular.  Many tourists from northern states would come south in the winter and were looking for adventure.  A multi-day trip through the wilds of Florida was just what they were looking for!  They could fish and hunt directly from the boat as it moved slowly through the uninhabited areas surrounding the Ocklawaha.  One very popular activity was shining lanterns on the water and into the woods at night and shooting at the alligators and animals whose eyes reflected at them.

But there were also people on the riverboats who were simply looking at the beauty that surrounded them.  One such person was Maud Powell, who wrote a poem about her riverboat trip entitled, “Up the Ocklawaha.”  The poem was so beautiful that it inspired Marion Bauer, a world-famous concert violinist, to write a piece based on it even though she had never seen the river.  Her composition, also called “Up the Ocklawaha,” was praised for its “weird strangeness of Ocklawaha River Country.”

When the anchor was lent to the Historical Society, Mr. Pitts had no idea of the name of the boat it came from.  After one of the Society’s members did some research, we have a possible name to put with it.  There were several companies offering riverboat rides on the Ocklawaha but one company operated by Edward Lucas had a steamer, the Metamora, that sank in the Ocklawaha.  We believe there is a very real possibility the anchor is from that boat.

The anchor is on display outside on the grounds of the Village, so you can see it any time but if you come on a Saturday or Sunday between 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm, you will be able to tour all the buildings at the Village as well!  Admission to the Village is on a donation basis.  We request $5.00 per person 12 and over.  The Village is located at 490 West Avenue on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola and not far from all the lovely shops and restaurants in historic downtown Clermont.  See you soon!

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The Village Chapel is almost complete now and will soon be available for small weddings, vow renewals, and similar events. 

The structure was built to resemble early churches in the Clermont area and is situated with Victory Pointe as its backdrop. 

If you would like to learn more about renting the Chapel, the Depot, or the grounds of the Historic Village; contact Roxanne Brown, Village manager, at 352-242-7734.

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Every building in the Historic Village is a museum unto itself.  The homes feature furnishings, appliances, clothing, toys, photographs, and more.  The schoolhouse is home to a nice collection of old textbooks.  The Quonset hut houses an extensive collection of World War II memorabilia and books.  The Depot has interesting photographs depicting the history of railroads in Clermont.  The Cooper Memorial Library is home to collections of antique radios, medical equipment, cameras, two typewriters, a gramophone, and an artist’s molds for making a famous collection honoring the developers of the polio vaccine to name just a fraction of what you will see in there.

Located at 490 West Avenue just a few short blocks from historic downtown Clermont on the shores of beautiful Lake Minneola, the Village is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  Admission to the Village is always free but a donation of $5.00 per person over 12 is requested.

If you are interested in the history of Clermont or in history in general, why not consider joining the Clermont Historical Society?  Membership is just $25.00 per person or $35.00 for a couple annually.  The Historical Society holds monthly meetings on the second Monday of each month.  The board meeting begins at 6:00 PM and is followed by a presentation at 7:00 PM.  Our next meeting will be held on May 10^th in the Depot.  You can also see lots of pictures and information about the Village on our Facebook page.  A new website will be launching very soon.  For questions or further information please call 352-242-7734.  We hope to see you all now that the Village is completely reopened.  Stay hopeful and safe!

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