Uncrowned Community Builders

Milton Hardon was a businessman, who operated a shoe shine parlor and hat blocking business in several downtown Buffalo locations. Reports are that he moved to Buffalo in 1900. He opened his shoe shine shop as early as 1921 according to newspaper ads for his shoe shine parlor. Initially it was located at 30 Johnson Park. A 1924 newspaper ad boasted, "Ladies and gents, come to Milton's Shining Parlor. Suede, white and patent leather shoes our specialty."

In 1929 the year of the beginning of the Great Depression, Hardon decided to sell the business then located at 376 William Street. The notice in the June 24, 1929 edition of the Buffalo Courier Express article stated, "good location, doing good business."

In 1932, a Buffalo News article (November 21) reported that Milton had been arrested. He was charged with disorderly conduct stemming from a fight with two other men. He was given probation and ordered to pay for the damages. His age was listed as 69. At this time he was also identified as the manager of the Dreamland Dance Studio.

Hardon was married to the former Harriet Anderson Jackson, mother of Raymond Jackson and Frances Jackson Nash. According to the 1939 City Directory the Hardons lived at 20 Potter Street. Mrs. Nash recalled her step-father's love of music and that he often practiced, in the upstairs of their home, with the band he formed. The band was called the Colored School Boys' Band of Buffalo. The Band was formed as early as 1916 and was known as the Boys Brass Band at the ti me.

He died in July 1943. His obituary stated that he'd lived in Buffalo since 1900. Hardon is buried at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.