Aiken in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Hofmann

1876 - 1957

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 2008

1. Hofmann Marker

Inscription. Josef Casimir Hofmann, internationally known Polish pianist, resided with his wife, Aikenite Marie Eustis Hofmann, in a three~story house located several hundred feet west of here. Born near Cracow, Poland, he was recognized as a gifted pianist at an early age and considered the finest interpreter of Chopin. He and his wife were instrumental in founding the Fermata School for Girls, which first opened in 1919 on the upper floor of the Hofmann home.

Erected 1985 by The Polish Heritage Association of the Southeast.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 33° 33.399′ N, 81° 43.486′ W. Marker is in Aiken, South Carolina, in Aiken County. Marker is on Laurens St SW, on the right when traveling south. Between Colleton and S. Boundry Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Aiken SC 29801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hitchcock Woods (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The One Room Schoolhouse (about 500 feet away); Coker Spring (about 500 feet away); Frederick Ergle Log Cabin (about 600 feet away); Water Trough and Drinking Fountain

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(about 600 feet away); Legare-Morgan House (about 600 feet away); Banksia (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named "Banksia" (about 700 feet away); Transit Of Venus Observatory Structure, 1882 (about 800 feet away); Aiken County Museum (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aiken.

Also see . . .
1. Josef Hofmann. Josef Casimir Hofmann (originally Józef Kazimierz Hofmann; January 20, 1876 – February 16, 1957) was a Polish-American virtuoso pianist, composer, music teacher, and inventor. (Submitted on January 6, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

2. Josef Hofmann plays Chopin Nocturne in C-minor Op. 48, #1. (Submitted on March 14, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
3. Josef Hofmann plays Chopin Concerto Op. 21, Larghetto. (Submitted on March 14, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
4. Frédéric François Chopin. Frédéric François Chopin, in Polish Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (the surname is pronounced [ˈʂɔpɛn̪] in Polish; [ʃɔˈpɛ̃] in French; and usually /ˈʃoʊpæn/

Photographed By Brian Scott, February 25, 2017

2. Hofmann Marker

in English; 1 March 1810[1] – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer, virtuoso pianist, and music teacher, of French-Polish parentage. (Submitted on January 6, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Fermata School
In 1919 Mrs. Josef Hofmann, wife of the famed pianist, was looking for a school for her daughter Josefa. She found none that suited. At length she looked at piny, sandy, swank Aiken, S. C. and found it good. There she established a school, named it Fermata. In 1926 Fermata School was taken over by F. A. M. Tabor, owner of Aiken Preparatory School for boys. Principal Tabor moved the school to its present site at Whiskey Road & Gin Lane. He expanded the plant with tennis courts, gymnasium, outdoor swimming pool. A Cambridge man, brother-in-law of Sir John Broderick, onetime commercial counsellor at the British Embassy in Washington, Principal Tabor invested Fermata with a strongly British atmosphere. (Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,743991-3,00.html.)

— Submitted March 14, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Hofmann Marker, looking south along Laurens Ave. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

3. Hofmann Marker, looking south along Laurens Ave.

Josef Casimir Hofmann<br>1876–1957 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. Josef Casimir Hofmann
1876–1957

Old Metropolitan Opera House, New York<br>50th Anniversary of Hofman's U.S. Debut image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia, November 28, 1937

5. Old Metropolitan Opera House, New York
50th Anniversary of Hofman's U.S. Debut

Credits. This page was last revised on December 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,377 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on March 26, 2017, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 3. submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4, 5. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.