Hardin Gardens Formally Dedicated

Winthrop University formally dedicated the Hardin Family Garden at the south end of Scholars Walk last week with a special event honoring the generosity of the late Patricia "Patz" Whetstone Carter ’69 and her husband, Ray, and the contributions of the Hardin family to Winthrop and the Rock Hill community. Click here to view photos from the event.

During the dedication, President Anthony DiGiorgio explained the garden utilizes an ancient design called the "the Golden Section," a principle drawn from and reflected in nature, with teaching and learning applications in art and design, math, science, architecture, and many other disciplines. He emphasized that the garden design is a place for teaching and learning in a variety of disciplines, as well as a place that inspires quiet conversation and personal reflection.

In addition to several water features and green spaces, the garden features two art installations, the "Winthrop Monolith," designed and built by Winthrop faculty members Tom Stanley and Shaun Cassidy, and a tube formation created by art major Rebecca Jane Hooper.

Last February, the Carters committed a Charitable Remainder Unitrust valued at more than $1.5 million to Winthrop because of their love and longstanding family ties to the university. Patz Carter was a former member of the Winthrop University Real Estate Foundation. Her aunt, Celeste Whetstone White ’58, her sister, Cynthia Whetstone Tobin ’82, and her niece, Courtney Hagins ’01, are all Winthrop alumnae, along with Ray's sister, Gail Carter Rogers ’72.

Instead of naming a space on campus for themselves, the Carters chose to pay tribute to the Hardin family whose love of history and art have enhanced the Winthrop campus and local community. Some examples of these connections include former Rock Hill Mayor John Anderson Hardin who advocated for the creation of Glencairn Garden in Rock Hill; the late Dr. Walter B. Roberts, who presided over Winthrop’s Department of Music for more than 40 years; Walter Hardin, associate vice president for Winthrop facilities management who has helped carry out the campus additions and renovations over the past 20 years; Jim Hardin, a local attorney and member of the President's Community Leaders Advisory Group; and Martie Hardin Curran, the former executive director of alumni relations who was heavily involved in the local arts.

When the Carters’ gift is realized, it will produce support for the conservation, historic preservation and adaptive use of Winthrop space and facilities. It also will provide scholarships and faculty fellowships in the Department of Design.

Shortly after this gift was announced last year, Patz Carter was tragically killed in a car accident.

For more information about the Hardin Family Gardens or the Carter gift, contact Amanda Stewart, director of donor relations and communications, at 803/323-2150.

Posted 04/19/2011