Auburn honors Eloise and late Vernon Hadden
Jim Turner [Editor - News-Democrat & Leader]
Admirers of Eloise and the late Vernon Hadden braved Sunday's scorching heat to pay tribute to the first family of Auburn history.
Out of respect to those gathered at the Auburn Museum, the usually loquacious Mrs. Hadden shortened her outpouring of thanks-- as it was she still spoke at times, but all present could tell her gratitude was heart-felt.A window created and crafted by Strickler Stained Glass of Auburn was unveiled on the east side of the museum, showing various highlights of the life of the Haddens and of Auburn.
A window on the opposite side of the building was unveiled a year ago to honor the late Logan county Magistrate Ellsworth Strickler, whose company bears his name.
Vernon Hadden was a banker and an Auburn city councilman who dies too soon.
"It's been said the 'there is no telling what can be accomplished if you don't mind others taking the credit,'" said Marie Foley, mistress of ceremonies for the occasion. "Vernon never seemed to mind who among many got the credit for the work he did as long as the job got done. He did an awful lot of work around here, and most of the time did his dead level best to stay out of the limelight. We are all grateful recipients of his dedication and a job well done."
Eloise Hadden is a retired high school teacher at Auburn High School and Logan County High School who also is a former city council member. She led the effort in obtaining Certified City status for Auburn, in the process learning how to get much of downtown Auburn on the National Register of Historic Places.
That led to the creation of the Auburn Historical Society and the museum.
Foley credited Eloise Hadden's efforts and leadership for Auburn's having a branch library, a museum, a one-room school house, and a historic village.
"All of the things I have mentioned, the three-plus acre lot, the building housing the museum and library, the procuring, moving and erecting of the school house, and the procuring moving and erecting of the barn and jail are debt free, thanks to grants written and obtained by Eloise Hadden. We have never been turned down for a grant applied for."
Hadden announced that she almost didn't write a grant application this year, but that she did and the Carpenter Foundation, which has been something of a patron sponsor of the museum, has approved funding for bricking the entire library/museum building later this summer.
Among those who participated in the program were The Gasper River Strings, Vardee and Roger Hollins, Helen Jordan, and the Haddens' granddaughters, Meredith and Sarah Hughes.
Linda Belcher Williams and her husband Charles had both come in from Florida, and Mrs. Williams read a poem in praise of her mentor.
Mrs. Hadden and Mrs. Foley urged those present to pay annual dues to be members of the Auburn Historical Society.
Refreshments were prepared by Betty Fugate while Helen Chyle of Unique Design Flowers provided the decorations.
Auburn Historical Society directors are President Hadden, Vice President Roger Hollins, Secretary Brenda Lane, Treasurer (temporarily) and Education Helen Jordan, Membership Randy Lee, Public Relations Marie and Dermot Foley, and Beautification Adam Corum.
