Mimi Hardman Legacy Fund

Mary Leigh Reid Hardman (1934 - 2019), better known as "Mimi", was the founder of the Historic Lake Wales Society, which ran the Lake Wales Depot Museum for more than 40 years. She was married to to Dr. William "Bill" Hardman in 1958 before settling down in Lake Wales. Originally from Kentucky, Mimi quickly made it her mission to celebrate the life and times of Lake Wales, Florida.

Mimi was appointed by the Lake Wales City Commission as chair of the Bicentennial Committee in 1974. The idea of a history museum emerged, and she convinced the CSX Corporation to donate their abandoned 1928 Atlantic Coast Line railroad depot to the city. She spearheaded the effort to restore and convert the pink depot into the city's first museum with a mission to preserve, safeguard, and share the historical records of the life, people, and places of Lake Wales. The museum was dedicated July 4, 1976 as part of the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration. Mimi created and oversaw the first Pioneer Day in 1976. For her efforts, she was named Citizen of the Year in 1977 by the Chamber of Commerce. For the 30th Annual Pioneer Days, Mimi was recognized as an Honorary Pioneer. She was selected as Pioneer of the Year in 2016.

Mimi was appointed the executive director of the museum and the chairperson for the city's Depot Commission in January of 1980. She was the driving force behind the collection of historic materials, preservation of historic buildings, fundraising for projects and events, and spokesperson for the promotion of arts, culture and heritage throughout the city. As a full-time volunteer, Mimi was paid a ceremonial one dollar a year for her service. In 1987, the Historical Lake Wales Society was formed with the mission to preserve and share the history of Lake Wales. She served as president until 2015. Today, the museum is known as the Lake Wales History Museum and continues to share history through exhibits, preserve its historic collections, preserve historic buildings, and offer events for the public.

On a state-wide level, with her passion for always wearing red, white and blue, and armed with a tenacity for saving history, Mimi was appointed to the Florida Historical Commission by Governor Jeb Bush in 2002, and served on the board of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. She spent hundreds of days and nights in Tallahassee for Preservation Day, chairing survey and planning grants panels, and lobbying for grant funds for the Division of Historic Resources.

Mimi believed everyone was destined to be part of history. We still believe this, as the Lake Wales History Museum continues to collect, preserve and share the heritage of Lake Wales. We thank Mimi for her passionate mission to save and share Lake Wales history.