The tradition of expressing love with a gift of chocolates on Valentine's Day may have begun as early as the 15th century.
English chocolate maker Richard Cadbury has been credited as the first to market the sweets in a heart-shaped box on Feb. 14, 1861.
When Bernard Hardwicke first saw Los Gatos native Mima Templeman coming up the block he knew she was "the one" for him.
Because their romance blossomed during the Depression, and they did not want to burden their parents with the expense of a wedding, the couple eloped to Monterey in 1933.
Arthur Templeman welcomed his son-in-law into the family business, A.W. Templeman Hardware on North Santa Cruz Avenue, and Bernard remained there until his retirement in 1966. During that time he and Mima had four sons.
On Valentine's Day 1993 "Bern" refilled and inscribed the same satin heart-shaped See's Candies box he had given Mima 60 years before.
The Hardwickes were married for 66 years. Bernard died in 1999 at the age of 96 and Mima in 2009 at the age of 100.
Source: Hooked on Los Gatos, the Library and Museum History Project
Mima Templeman Collection
