A Benefactor in Life and After
The lengthy influence of Mildred Harden
Miss Mildred H. Harden was a positive influence for many students in my hometown and was so for a very long time. Several generations of students remember her social studies class and reading the big newspaper, the New York Times, that arrived daily. Her class provided a window to the world for almost half a century.
Ms. “Millie” Harden spent her whole career teaching at Franklin High School. She had never married nor had children or close relatives in her later years.
She was the last known baby who was birthed in the birthing room and cradle in the Von Bunschooten house, now known as the home of the local Daughters of the American Revolution.
Upon her death in the year 2000 she had bequeathed her life savings back to the town that she greatly cherished, and to other organizations that she loved. This was done with no fanfare nor public awareness before she passed away. She was buried in the Clove Cemetery in Wantage, in the George Harden plot, opposite of her grandmother Mary Jane Courtright, wife of W.W. Harden.
In a simile of the timeline of her life, Ms. Harden gave money to organizations that had influenced her journey on this earth. She provided $100,000 to the town. This has been partly used for a child’s park down at the Franklin Pond. She provided $100,000 to the Elias Von Bunschooten Museum of the DAR. She provided $400,000 to her college, Cedar Crest College. She provided $400,000 to the First Presbyterian Church. She provided $50,000 to the Franklin Mineral Museum along with precious minerals and artifacts. She provided $60,000 to Clove Cemetery for the upkeep of her Harden plot.
Respecting her career as a teacher, she showed the desire to use a metaphor to her retained value - her life savings - to, after her passing, continue good work in the education of the youth. She provided $100,000 to the school where she had taught her whole life. This sum has been held as an annuity and each year a worthy Franklin eighth student who goes on to high school and is given a scholarship. The Foundation received the donation from Mildred Harden on March 31, 2011. The first scholarship was awarded in June of 2012. Another contribution to education of the youth of her town is $100,000 established as the Mildred H. Harden Fund with the investment income granting one annual scholarship for post-secondary education to a Wallkill Valley Regional High School graduate, determined by the Trustees of the Wallkill Valley Educational Foundation.
Ms. Mildred Harden is one who is a quintessential model of a Profile in Character. Her legacy displays qualities that influence others and impacts society well by making the world a better place.
