The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
HOMETOWN HERO
Commissioners proclaim Feb. 2022 ‘James A. Garfield Month’
The Lake County commissioners recently proclaimed February as “James A. Garfield Month” in Lake County.
Garfield, who was elected the 20th president of the United States in 1881, was shot in Washington, D.C., on July 2 of that year — less than four months into his term — by an embittered attorney who had been rejected for a consulship.
Garfield died 79 days later at a seaside retreat in Elberon, New Jersey.
Dolefully designated by historians as one of the “lost presidents,” Garfield’s life and influence continue to embody the symbolic spirit of “what might have been….”
Welcoming Todd Arrington, site manager at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Commissioner John Hamercheck noted it was an honor to dedicate the month to Garfield’s legacy.
“The life of James Garfield was tragically cut short, but (it was) beyond impactful.” — Commissioner John Plecnik
“We are proud to recognize Lake County as his home for several years until his untimely death,” Hamercheck said.
As the last of the “log cabin presidents,” Garfield was born in Orange Township, now Moreland Hills, in Cuyahoga County in 1831 and made Ohio his home for all but his college years.
In 1876, while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Garfield and his wife, Lucretia, purchased their farm in Mentor, referred to as Lawnfield, named for the many reporters camped out on the lawns around the house.
Shortly thereafter, Garfield began to expand their home to accommodate their five children who they taught how to farm. During a three-year period, the home was enlarged from nine rooms to 20, with a porch added to the front and the interior refurnished.
At the Republican Convention in June 1880, Garfield won the nomination for the presidency after being considered a “dark horse” nominee. He conducted a large part of his successful and precedent-setting campaign right from what would become his famous front porch.
He converted a small building, formerly used as his personal library, into his campaign headquarters equipped with a temporary telegraph that sent and received messages, including the results of the election.
In November 1880, after serving nine terms in the House of Representatives, and by a margin of only 10,000 popular votes, Garfield became president.
“The life of James Garfield was tragically cut short, but (it was) beyond impactful,” said Commissioner John Plecnik. “From humble beginnings, President Garfield attacked political corruption and changed the United States and the entire world in his roles as minister, professor, state senator, congressman and general.”
Arrington, addressing the board, described Garfield as the county’s favorite son.
“We (as a National Park Service site) are so proud to be part of the Lake County community,” he said. “It is our honor to commemorate and interpret his life, career and legacy and we thank the commissioners.”
Commissioner Ron Young added, “If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the James A. Garfield Historic Site, please take some time to do so. More than 80 percent of the furnishings in the home belonged to the Garfield family in 1882 and it includes the first presidential library.
“It is truly fascinating to step back in time and experience this slice of history,” he said.