Nov. 27, 2022. We first met Mildred Hardeman in 2013. Below is our article from then with an interview. And below this is an update regarding her historic home.
Mildred Hardeman on the porch of her Mt. Tabor Way, Ocean Grove home. Paul Goldfinger photo and video. July 2013
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor, Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, NJ. update 11/27/22
2013:
Mildred Hardeman was born in Alabama in 1921. At the time of the depression, her family moved to Texas so her father could find work. Then they moved to Georgia where she went to high school. Her mother urged her to seek higher education, so she obtained a scholarship to an all-girls college in Athens, Georgia in 1942.
Shorter College had 200 students then. They encouraged careers for women. Today it is Shorter University and has several thousand students.
While at Shorter, Mildred got a job as assistant to a faculty member who encouraged her to move to New York City. Mildred obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy and psychology at Columbia University.
No university in NYC would hire her to teach philosophy–that field was reserved for men— but Queens College hired her to teach psychology. Over the years she taught at the college level while living in NYC.
She purchased a home in Ocean Grove in the 1970’s after reading an article about the town in the New York Times. She came by train, and it was love at first sight.
The historic home that she purchased required a complete remodeling, but since then she has had to do very little work on the building. At first she only came here on weekends, but after her retirement, she moved here full time, leaving her beloved New York City behind.
Mildred used to love to walk all over town, but lately she pretty much stays home. Some years ago she bought a car, but she parked it in front and never drove it. It was sold after three years.
At the age of 92, Mildred’s love affair with Ocean Grove continues. She enjoys chatting with folks walking by. When I went over to interview her, she was sitting on her porch reading all the news that’s fit to print. She was happy to tell her story to me, but she was a bit baffled when I tried to explain Blogfinger to her (sometimes I baffle myself). But we’ll bring our iPad over to introduce her to the Internet.
—Paul Goldfinger, editor @Blogfinger
MUSIC. What do you choose for a philosopher? We decided on “Across the Universe” by John Lennon and played beautifully by guitarist Bill Frisell. It is said that Lennon ‘s melody for this piece was influenced by his interest in Eastern religions.
(note: If you know any fascinating Grovers who might be willing to be interviewed, please send me a brief summary and contact info. )
Dr. Mildred Hardeman apparently acquired a cottage in Ocean Grove in 1973 before moving to her present dwelling in 1976. Realtor websites mention this house was built in 1875. Early photos are given showing the board and batten siding with vertical planks. Few houses in OG retain these. The front door originally had a pointed arch and there was no front porch at first, but one was added by 1890. Many of these early Gothic Revival homes were lost in the 1880s when larger cottages were desired.
Thanks Mr. G . I wish more Grovers would tip me off to “fascinating Grovers” for me to interview and photograph. Just send an email with a few sentences about the person and some contact information to: Blogfinger@verizon.net
Very nice posting! This is what Blogfinger is all about and of course, much more too.
I first met Mildred in 2007 when she was still taking her daily walks around town and going out for lunch with a friend or two every day, weather permitting. Her life story that she told me was a bit different, in details, but the essence and her spirit are the same.
The last few times that I would stop by with a plant or some flowers, her verbal ability was mostly gone as far as completing a full train of thought or an actual sentence. But her welcoming smile and spirit were still intact. She no longer speaks of her one cousin down south who she admitted to never having a strong bond with, but was the only family of hers that she was aware of.
Thank you so much for doing this interview to always keep her alive. Her history includes living though the depression in the southern United States, living and working in NYC during WW II and coming to Ocean Grove which developed her love of preserving history and now you preserve her history.
Hi Susan. Good to hear from you. Where have you been? Maybe you could get a job around here as a town tummler (look it up; you are well suited.) —Paul ps send me an email at Bloginger@verizon.net. Tell me all your town secrets for our WASSUP page.
Editor’s note. When I first posted this comment my obnoxious iPad changed the word “tummler” to “tumbler.” What chutzpah!! So look it up again.
Hi Paul! What a lovely surprise reading & seeing Mildred’s profile today. I can’t believe she’s 98 this year and still smiling in her sweet, inimitable way. Thanks for posting one of our treasures of Ocean Grove!
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
This profile of Mildred Hardeman PhD is from 2013. By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. Click on “BLOGFINGER” below this sentence
A woman so far ahead of her time. Can you imagine that she just packed up her bag and left her deep South small town to NYC without job, relative, or friend to meet her and show her where to go? What gumption!!
I met Mildred years ago when she applied to the HPC for repairs to her cottage. When original details that had been covered over previously were found she proceeded to have the most meticulous restoration possible.
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Well said Mildred…Ocean Grove delights most of us that have chosen this as their home..
Thank you so much for this! I live a few blocks away, and over the years have enjoyed chatting with Mildred when I saw her on her porch. Her sweet smile and lovely southern accent are the epitome of Ocean Grove to me!- Ed Peistrup