Things are moving quickly for the newly approved Grace Chapel at Clermont’s Historic Village. Just this past week an anonymous donor came forward with the offer to purchase eight 6-foot-long pews for the new building. The best news is that they are authentic and once served worshipers in a church in Florida. They will be getting a new life in Clermont.
For many years members of the Clermont Historical Society worked to make a chapel at the Historic Village a reality. To help further that dream, Late city council member Ray Goodgame made an initial donation several years before his passing to establish a building fund. That money was set aside by the Historical Society and is now serving as the seed money for the project that the organization and so many of its long-time members, like founder Micki Blackburn Nagel, are so excited to be embarking on now. Some other donors have already come forward and it looks like the chapel dream could become a reality before the year is out.
If you would like to donate to the Historical Society’s building fund you can simply mail your check to the Clermont Historical Society at 490 West Avenue, Clermont 34711. The check would need to be made out to the Clermont Historical Society and marked as “Building Fund” in the memo section. A Go Fund Me account for the effort is also being established and will soon go live.
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 (open to the public) begins at 6:00 PM and is followed by a presentation at 7:00 PM. Our next full meeting will be held on September 13 in the Depot. You can also see lots of pictures and information about the Village on our Facebook page and on our new website at www.clermonthistoricvillage.org. For questions or further information please call 352-242-7734.