Did you ever wonder how the library in Clermont got its name? To answer that in detail, you need to visit the Clermont Historic Village at 490 West Avenue and tour the city’s original library building. But the short answer is, the land where that building was erected (for the huge sum of $600.00 in 1919) was donated by Mrs. Alice Cooper (no, music fans, NOT that Alice Cooper!) who had settled in Clermont with her husband, Montgomery, shortly after the American Civil War. There are still decedents of the Coopers living in Clermont but their last name is now Bishop. You may recognize that from our Fire Department Chief.
The Historic Village is also home to two historic houses, a 1920’s train depot, a World War II Quonset hut and two replicas—a one-room schoolhouse and an outhouse. The Village is open every Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm and every Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Admission to the Village is always free but a donation of $3.00 per person is requested. If you would like to tour the Village with a group at a time when it is not scheduled to be open, contact the manager at 352-432-3496 to make arrangements for a private tour. There is a $3.00 per person fee for these tours.
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 every month at 7:00 PM in the Train Depot in the Historic Village. Our next meeting is September 9th.
