Anyone who has met Doris Bloodsworth knows that she has many amazing talents and interests not the least of which is her love of South Lake County and its history. Doris is an award-winning journalist and author. She has published three books, Images of America: Clermont, Images of America: Groveland, and Legendary Locals of Lake County which she co-wrote with her sister, Connie Fleetwood. Doris is currently working with other members of Library Board to update and republish Miriam Johnson’s Gem of the Hills.
As for Doris’ own history, it was 1959 when Everett and Doris Woolum packed up their three daughters and headed to Florida to start a new life. All three have contributed to improving the quality of life in the area as an educator, a mayor, and a journalist & public servant. They are also active members in various organizations including the Groveland Historical Society.
It is Doris’s love of history that lead her to do the research and create a presentation on the first people known to have lived in the Clermont area—the Timucua. Doris will be the featured speaker at the November 12th meeting of the South Lake County Historical Society where she will share information about the discoveries she made about the Timucua, where they lived, how they lived and how they became extinct. The meeting will be held at 7 pm in the old Train Depot in Clermont’s Historic Village located at 490 West Ave., Clermont. The public is welcome to attend.
The Historic Village is open every Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm and every Saturday & Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Interested in touring the Village but cannot make those times? Contact the Village at 352-432-3496 to make arrangements for a private tour. If you are interested in history in general or the history of Lake County in particular, contact the South Lake County Historical Society by going to our website, ClermontVillage.org; by calling our manager, Roxanne Brown, at 352-432-3496 or by attending our membership meetings which are held on the second Monday of the month at 7 pm in the Train Depot in the Historic Village. As stated above, the next meeting will be November 12th. After touring the Village, please like us on Facebook or mention us on Yelp.
