LakeWalesNews.net - Hometown stories that count from people who care

Editor's Note: Memorial is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at 1st United Methodist Church in Lake Wales, with musical prelude starting at 1:30 p.m.

The grand lady in red, white and blue, Lake Wales legend Mimi Hardman died Friday, Dec.13. A driving force for historic preservation and celebrating the pioneers who built Lake Wales, Hardman left behind an extraordinary legacy.

Her service as chair of the Bicentennial Commission led to the opening of the Depot Museum on July 4, 1976. As a community volunteer she oversaw the Museum for nearly 40 years and brought millions of historic prese...