{"chunks_used":10,"query":"The Other Harmon","report":"**Research Synopsis: William E. Harmon, Philanthropist and Developer**  \n\nWilliam Elmer Harmon (1862\u20131928) was a pioneering real estate developer and philanthropist whose legacy spans both suburban development and cultural patronage. Born in Lebanon, Ohio, he partnered with his brother Clifford B. Harmon and uncle Charles Wood to revolutionize real estate in the late 19th century. In 1887, they pooled $3,000 to purchase land for the \u201cBranch Hill\u201d subdivision in Loveland, Ohio, introducing an innovative installment plan allowing buyers to pay $2 down and 25 cents weekly for lots. This model, described as \u201cthe installment plan applied to real estate\u201d (Croton Friends of History, 2013), sold all 200 lots in four days and laid the groundwork for their national real estate empire, Wood, Harmon & Co. By 1905, the firm operated in 40 cities east of the Mississippi, acquiring over 20,000 building lots and becoming the largest real estate operation in the U.S. (Croton Friends of History, 2013).  \n\nAfter retiring in 1922, William dedicated himself to philanthropy under the alias \u201cJedediah Tingle,\u201d anonymously funding community projects and individuals in need. His most enduring contribution was the Harmon Foundation, established in 1922, which initially supported parks and nursing programs but evolved into a trailblazer for African American artists. Influenced by his father\u2019s service with African American Buffalo Soldiers during the Civil War and his own progressive views, Harmon began supporting Black artists after encountering racial barriers in the art world. By 1928, the foundation sponsored the first national exhibition of African American visual art, touring museums and YMCAs nationwide and becoming a cornerstone of the Harlem Renaissance (crotonhistory.org, 2013).  \n\nHarmon\u2019s hometown of Lebanon, Ohio, also benefited from his generosity. He funded the Lebanon Public Library, built Harmon Hall (a community center now housing the Warren County Historical Society Museum), and established the Harmon Civic Trust for ongoing local improvements (Croton Friends of History, 2013). His death in 1928 revealed his identity as the mysterious \u201cJedediah Tingle,\u201d with *The New York Times* exposing his philanthropy posthumously.  \n\n**Sources consulted**  \n- Croton Friends of History. (2013). *The Other Harmon \u2014 William E. Harmon, Philanthropist*. https://www.crotonfriendsofhistory.org/the-other-harmon  \n- Croton Friends of History. (n.d.). *The Other Harmon By Carl Oechsner*. https://www.crotonfriendsofhistory.org/the-other-harmon  \n- crotonhistory.org. (2013). *The Other Harmon*. https://crotonhistory.org/2013/03/05/the-other-harmon/  \n- Comprehensive Plan 2003 Raw Text. (n.d.). *Village of Croton-on-Hudson Comprehensive Plan*. [Internal documents].  \n\nThis synopsis synthesizes Harmon\u2019s dual legacy as a real estate innovator and a champion of social equity, highlighting his transformative impact on both suburban development and cultural history.","sources_consulted":["Croton Friends of History \u2014 https://www.crotonfriendsofhistory.org/the-other-harmon","crotonhistory.org \u2014 https://crotonhistory.org/2013/03/05/the-other-harmon/","Croton Friends of History"]}