President James A. Garfield is a name virtually lost among the United States Presidents. Having served just six months and fifteen days of office – the second shortest term of any President – he was shot on July 2, 1881 by a disgruntled Federal office seeker named Charles Guiteau. For the last two and a half months of his term, Garfield lay incapacitated until he finally succumbed from the gunshot wound on September 19. It has been argued that it was really the ineptitude of his doctors that actually caused his death, but nevertheless Garfield is considered the second of four assassinated Presidents.
Like his contemporary Rutherford B. Hayes, whom he followed into office, Garfield is one of four Presidents who was both born and interred in the State of Ohio. In fact, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio when he assumed the role of President, making him the only sitting member of the House to be elected President.
Over the course of two Ohio trips, I have twice visited three major locations relevant to the life of James Garfield, in addition to one location in New Jersey:
Tuesday, August 25, 1998 / Sunday, July 27, 2008 – James Garfield birthplace – I have only a vague recollection of arriving at the birthplace of James Garfield relatively early on that Tuesday morning in 1998 with Bob and Lisa and of having to walk back though a woods, up and down a hill with steps, only to arrive at a mere marker indicating where he was born. The cabin had long since been destroyed.
This was all that I recalled in 2008 when Bob and I returned to this location in Moreland Hills, Ohio (formerly Orange Township at the time of Garfield’s birth). This time however, we found the Ohio Historical marker just off the main road indicating his birth spot. In addition, there was now a log cabin on the premesis (which I later found out to be an authentic cabin from the period that was moved to this location). Bob and I were both confused as we distinctly remembered going on a brisk walk through the woods on that hot summer morning ten years ago.
The entrance to the Village of Moreland Hills
With the Ohio Historical Marker
Cabin similar to the Garfield birth home. Ah but the general public will never know that it didn’t really sit here now, will they?
Still I’m curious to find out what’s inside
Maybe I’ll ask this gentleman, a young Mr. Garfield
The cabin was located next to a woods, so I surmised that we had possibly started on the other end of the wooded area and had walked to this point where the cabin now stood. Throwing up our arms, we nearly left the area – when suddenly we stopped and decided to walk through the woods behind the cabin. Once we got into it, I immediately recognized the surroundings. When we came out of the woods on the other end, there it was: the big rock that marked the actual site of the original Garfield cabin.
The actual birthplace of Garfield
Close-up of the plaque on the rock
Bob stayed near the rock and headed toward the road without going through the woods while I trudged back through the forest and then drove around to pick him up. It was a good thing we decided to go in there. We almost missed the original birthsite altogether!
Tuesday, August 25, 1998 / Monday, July 28, 2008 – James Garfield’s Lawnfield Home – Lawnfield is one of the coolest Presidential sites around, with the most accurate restoration of the original appearance from the 1800’s of any Presidential home. Garfield purchased the home in 1876 and conducted ther first ‘front porch’ campaign here, building a headquarters building on the premesis. Four years after Garfield’s death, his wife Lucretia added an additional wing to the house to store her husband’s Presidential papers, effectively making this home the very first ‘Presidential Library.’ The family continued to live in the home until 1936 at which time they donated it to the Western Reserve Historical Society.
During our visit in 1998, we had the good fortune to see it after restoration had just been completed, bringing the home back to its original color and furnishings from the time that the President lived there. I still recall the additional wing that was added to the house, with many of the President’s books and papers – as well as a walk-in vault that would house even more rare belongings and artifacts. During our 2008 visit, the vault contained the bouquet of flowers sent to Garfield’s memorial service from Queen Victoria of England.
Now that these guys are running the show, there will be no photos inside
Another Presidential sundial
In front of Lawnfield
Side view of Lawnfield taken in 1998
In front of the added wing, the first-ever Presidential Library
Garfield’s campaign office during the 1880 Presidential election
Garfield’s windmill
Between our visits, the National Parks Service had taken over and had decided that photos were not permitted in neither the house nor the adjacent museum on the property. The museum contained a variety of Garfield momentos, most notably the Bible on which Garfield was sworn into office. I begged to have a photo taken with it, but was refused. Upon my return home, I located a photo of someone else in our party getting ‘sworn in’ back in 1998. Bummer.
No fair! Look what that little minx got to do!
At least I’ve got one photo of me from 1998 inside the museum
Photo of the Lawnfield parlor taken in 1998
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 – Death site of James Garfield – A few months after the shooting of James Garfield on July 2, 1881 by Charles Guiteau, Garfield was taken to Long Branch, New Jersey, in the hopes that the soothing coastal waters would help heal to heal. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out that way and he ended up passing away on September 19 that year. A marker sits on the site of the location of the cottage in which he died.
Overview of the current property where Garfield passed away
Visiting the plaque at dusk
To avoid having the ailing President moved to the cottage over rough roads, a half mile of train tracks were laid so that he could be transported directly to the location. When the tracks were pulled up, they were purchased by actor Oliver Byron, who commissioned that a small structure be built out of them and placed on his property.
The building was moved several times, and currently resides on the property of the Church of the Presidents (where Garfield and six other Presidents worshiped) elsewhere in Long Branch. The entire area is under renovations and off-limits to the public – but this did not stop me from sneaking in through a hole in the fence.
The Garfield Tea House
Trespasser at large
Tuesday, August 25, 1998 / Monday, July 28, 2008 – Monument and Burial Site of James A. Garfield – Although only a six-month President, the nation understandably greatly mourned their fallen leader and Ohio quickly set about constucting a 180 foot tall monument constucted of Ohio sandstone at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lisa and me at the monument in 1998
Outside the monument in 2008
Plaque on the entrance to the monument
The center of the monument contains a giant marble statue of Garfield, depicting him as he addressed Congress. Stairs on either side of the monument took us down to see the bronze casket of James Garfield and his wife Lucretia, as well as the urn containing the ashes of Garfield’s only surviving daughter Mollie (who was 14 when her father was assassinated) and her husband Joseph Stanley-Brown. The stairs also lead up to the top of the monument where you can look down the center toward the top of the statue, or go outside for a very nice view of the city.
The marble statue (and barrier) as seen in 1998
Stepping over the barrier once again, trying to get a good photo, praying there are no alarms
View from the upper level of the Garfield statue
President and Mrs. Garfield’s caskets
Lisa and me at the top of the monument in 1998
View of the city from the top of the monument in 2008
Bob and I exit the monument in 1998
During both visits Bob and I took advantage of exploring the entire monument both inside and out. Lisa was with us during the first visit, and Bob used the downstairs restroom located right by the caskets during the second. Never before had he done that this close to a President.
James A. Garfield and me
Continue to the next President…
Return to Tuesday 1998 in Ohio… (under construction)
Return to Sunday 2008 in Ohio…
Return to Monday 2008 in Ohio…
Return to Wednesday 2009 in New Jersey…
What is Hayes doing in Garfield’s tomb? Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?
Bob
August 29th, 2008
Good catch. I corrected the caption on the last photo.
I always get those two confused. Must be the beards.
Brad
August 29th, 2008