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Prof. Richard Hardege

Musician and composer

1853 - 1922

Was a Noted Violinist and Teach of Piano and Violin

Studied Music in Leipsig, Germany

Hardege, Richard b. Sept 1, 1853, d. Jan 12, 1922, Prof. Musician & composer

Hardege, Richard 1913, 103 E Main, music teacher

The death of Prof. Richard Hardege, noted musician and musical composer and teacher of music for many years in Watertown, occurred in the family home, 408 Lincoln Street, Thursday afternoon. Death followed an attack of pneumonia from which he had suffered but a few days, and but few of his friends were aware that his condition was serious. Up to the time he was stricken he was in his usual health and able to attend to his musical teaching, and his death will be a shock to his many friends in Watertown and elsewhere where he was well known in musical circles.

Richard Hardege first saw the light of day at Haverstraw, N.Y., where he was born September 1, 1853 the son of the late Henry Hardege and Mrs. Louisa Hardege. When a child of three the family removed to Watertown and with the exception of a few years spent in Columbus he has resided in Watertown every since. Here he received his education in the public schools. He early evinced talent for music and began the self study of the art, soon acquiring skill on the piano and later on the violin, both of which instruments he mastered. He then went to Europe where he studied under the masters at Leipsig, Germany, remaining there more than three years, when he returned to Watertown a master of the instruments he loved so well, and opened a studio for the teaching of music which he followed the rest of his life.

He became widely known as an artist of great merit and a musical composer of considerable talent and he appeared in some of the best appointed orchestras of the country. But he cared little for the plaudits of the world and preferred the quiet life of his studio and the teaching of his pupils. Music was with him a passion to which his whole life was devoted and he was always the apt student.

His compositions for violin and piano were many, but few of them were published. His compositions also included orchestra numbers and an operetta, but never allowed but one to be published as he cared little for the publicity which his cherished art would bring him. He was heard on several occasions in Watertown and delighted his audiences who were enraptured with the melodies with which he favored them when prevailed upon to do so.

During his early career he served as director of the old Concordia Society, and the Harmony Singing society and was also director of the musical department of the Turner Society.

Mr. Hardege was possessed of a fine character and was endowed with many fine attainments. To those who knew him best he was a friend and adviser whose friendship was of the kind that lasts. He possessed a genial disposition which was ever in evidence when with friends and was kindhearted and charitable to a remarkable degree. But his whole soul was wrapped up in music, which developed in the cradle and lasted until the whisper of the angel of death.

He is survived by his mother, 93 years of age and an invalid, one sister, Miss Emma Hardege, at home and two brothers, Arthur and Eugene Hardege, at home.

The funeral will take place on Sunday afternoon from the chapel of the Schmutzler Furniture Co. at 1:30 o’clock where service will be held.

The burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.