The City of Clermont is one of the fastest growing cities in Central Florida and is strategically located just west of Orlando and north of Disney World.

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No cutie of the day—didn’t stop to do pictures last weekend—was feeling a bit down—bad night for sleep and all that good stuff—But we are doing a featured town today from my memories of a tour I did with some friends years ago.

clermont

We resume our trek

We had came to Hwy 50 within Clermont’s City Limits

Turn left—or East on Hwy 50

Clermont

This city was founded twice—the first time is much in the spirit of the not too far Disney World in that it was a fantasy–seems Tom Hook, (wonder if he’s any related to the Captain?)  Hook was an agent for the Sanford Company who sold hundreds of acres of land for person from New Jersey. these Jerseyites incorporated it as Clermont Improvement Company–the name by the way was a tribute to the company’s general manager Authur Wrotnowski’s French birthplace.  They advertised in the north and the company’s president House moved here along with his family and constructed a grand mansion with a 5-story tower which he named St Montrose, after the town he grew up in–in Penns.

Turn north from 50 onto 8th Street at To Downtown Sign

Clermont is often referred to as the “Gem of the Hills” due to its beautiful hilly landscape. Activities like camping, hunting, fishing, riding, hang-gliding and para-gliding are quite popular. There are more than 15 golf courses, which satisfy the needs of the ardent golf enthusiasts. Tourists may find the airplane, boat and farm tours very interesting. They can also try the various types of wines at the Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. The Citrus Tower is a popular destination, which allows people to witness the extraordinary views of Clermont.

 

8th Street goes around a pond of a lake:  Carter, back when I did my tour it passed The First Methodist Church 

https://www.flumc.org/

If you would like to see the new church (pictured above) turn right on West Brome Street and then left on 7th St. (950 7th St)  Church on left

Then turn left on West Juniata Street

Past Wesley Center 

http://fumcwesleycenter.com/

an event venue on the left.

 

Return to 8th Street–turn right.

 

Cross DeSanto Street

 

There is some parking along the street—start looking for a place to park

, once you’ve found one, park and  return on foot to the Northeast corner of Montrose and 8th is the  (now the

 

site of the Corner Stone  a music store at 798 W. Montrose St

https://www.cornerstoneguitars.com/shop/)    a 2 story brick building where the Roe Cousins ran the First State Bank, early Clermont’s most important institution.

 

 

listing photo

 

 

On average, there are 236 sunny days per year. The July high is around 92 °F (33 °C). The January low is 46. The comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 28 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable.

Wekipedia

 

 

From 8th stroll east along Montrose
noting the elm plantings and renovated buildings.
on the right (west) side of the street are
Erika’s Tea Room & Gift Shop
787 W Montrose St,
A great place to take tea, have lunch and shop for some fun items  I know have been there a few times before.
Despite the fact that downtown no longer attracts nationally prestigious companies, nearly all the stores have quality tenants.
Cheeser’s Palace Cafe
707 W Montrose S
Cheese-centric nook offers American breakfasts & lunches, plus cheese classes & a chocolate shop.
In one block come to 7th street.
On the NW Corner
is the former home of
The First National Bank,
archrimal of the First State Bank during the 1920’s.  With the Great Depression in the late 20s (Florida’s started earlier than the rest of the country—due to some weather issues—couple of bad hurricanes which discouraged visitors and investors).  Eventually they survived, but only by merging into the Citizens Bank (with an original cash on hand of $2,000).
If you look across to the SE corner
you will see a empty lot.
This used to be the site of the
Jenkins Auditorium
—in fact when I did my tour here it was still present.   in May 2012, there was a groundbreaking event for the new Clermont Community Center
located on the corner of Montrose Street and Lake Avenue.
New 10,000sq feet building was completed sometime in 2013 (or later?).
  • Photo taken at Jenkins Auditorium by Brian Z. on 6/10/2013

This was once an active supermarket.  The chain’s departure was a traumatic event from which the business section took a long time to recover—the Chamber of Commerce also occupied part of the building.

Home to some of the state’s most acclaimed biking hills and trails, there are a number of places to explore on bike in Clermont.

The South Lake and Lake Minneola Scenic Trail is set to become an iconic piece of the coast-to-coast connector, allowing bikers a ride across Florida from Titusville to St. Petersburg.

312 ft. Sugarloaf Mountain is another hot spot, being the highest point in the state (other than in the Panhandle). Bike enthusiasts from around Florida visit Clermont to ride rare Sugarloaf and take a break from the flat trails offered throughout the rest of the state.

Whether it be a relaxing, waterfront ride or a hefty workout among rigorous hills, your love for cycling will be fulfilled in Clermont!

http://blog.eragrizzard.com/hometalk/why-clermonts-the-center-of-central-floridas-cycling-craze

Mulberry Inn

 Continue walking two block east on Montrose

Past (on the left side of the street)

St Matthias Episcopal Church   https://stmatthiasfl.com/

574 W Montrose St,

Continue on east 

Mulbury Inn

915 Montrace

http://www.nbcfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Newsletter_Dec2009.pdf

Built around 1890 by townfounder and sawmill owner Archibald Gaines.  The two story dwelling was owed by C.O. Roe between 1900 – 1910.  When I was visiting it was a bed and breakfast.

In 2009 it was refurbished and opened as a home for Women With Children.

Continue 2 blocks 

Go north on 5th Ave.

Turn right on Minneola Ave

Kehlor Park

https://www.clermontfl.gov/departments/parks-recreation/kehlor.stml

 466 W Minneola Ave, 

The Kehlor Recreation Center is designed for seniors for a new, and bigger facility downtown to offer a variety of programs. The Kehlor Center has an indoor restroom, and two restrooms outside of the main building for access from the shuffleboard courts, and tennis courts.

Return to 5th Street and continue to West Osceola street and turn left

The CIty Pier

End of 8th Street

There’s a lovely promndae that extnds east along the shore and the bike path etends along here and connects with the West Orange Trail in Oakland.

Continue on just a few feet  (on the lake side of Osceola)  and you’ll find

Lilly’s On The Lake

https://lillysonthelake.com/

846 W Osceola St

Caribbean-themed bar & grill serving casual meals in a scenic setting with indoor & outdoor seating.

We will end our tour —or at least part one at the end of Osceola Drive…..come back next week and we’ll see some more of this great Florida City

  • Photo taken at Lilly's On The Lake by Maria R. on 8/14/2019

In 1922, a developer named Edward Denslow organized something called The Postal Colony Company.  He bought 1,000 acres and planted citrus groves.  The groves were owned and tended by the retired post office employees.  Clermont became one of the foremost citrus growing towns in the United States.

https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/clermont-florida.html

This picture is from Winter Park Village just across from the movie theater

off 17-92 in Winter Park, Fl of course—as is our main picture above

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